Slash and Burn method in Northwest part of Myanmar in Chin State

Slash and burn method in northwest part in Myanmar

Table of Contents

Sr. No Subject

A. Tables

B. Acknowledgement

I. Abstract

1. Necessity study

2. Methosd of study

I.1. Education sector

I.2. Cultivation in Chinland

I.3. Method of Cultivation

I.4. Hardship and Problems

I.5. Research resul;t against original objective

II. Introduction: Summery of development and execution of study

1. Background

2. Objective

III. Method of Study

IV. Content and results: Activities or contents of study/Research and discussion:

1.Slash and Burn Method

2. Future Plan

V. Practical application plan

1.Influences to the community

2. The government policy

VI. Environmental Impacts

1. Migration and Displacement

VII. Pratical application plan

1. Social effects

2. Economic effects

3. Political effects

VII. References: Literature/ Documents/ Websites

UNEP-EPLC Eco- peace leadership centre Kangwon national university

Sr.	Subject	1988	2005	Progress
1.	Sown Acreage(million)	24.48	26.6	1.8
2.	Monsoon paddy sown acreages(million)	11.53	15.04	3.51
3.	Summer paddy sown acreages(million)	-	3.44	3.44
4.	Total paddy production(basket in million)	653	1,200	547
5	Per acre yield( basket)	53	70	17

Table (1) Increase in paddy production of Myanmar (1988-2005)

Sr.	Subject	1988	2005	Progress
1.	Sown acreage (million)	12	26	14
2.	Dams completed	138	317	179
3.	Dams under construction	-	24	24
4.	Completed river water	-	293	293
5.	River water pumping project under	-	34	34
	implementation
6.	Irrigated acreage ( million)	4	6	2
7.	Crop cultivation capacity (percent)	119	271	152
8.	Paddy production ( basket in million)	653	1200	547
9.	Double cropping acre ( million)	3	10	7
10.	Food sufficiency ( percent)	-	143	143
11.	Beans and Pulses acreage (million)	2	9	7
12.	Maze acreage (million)	4	8	4
13.	Edible oil crops acreage	5	8	3

Table (2) Agriculture development of Myanmar (1988-2005)

		Growth		production
Sr.	Subject	acreage	Yields production	percentage	Remarks
1.	Rice	126,984	4714163	478.31	baskets
2.	Corn/maize	83,521	2,521,708	241.31	baskets
3.	Millet	28,403	2,542,078	78.77	baskets
4.	Beans	2,886	246,814	62.46	baskets
5.	Green Beans	2,349	29,922	123.73	baskets
6.	Ground peas	5,058	184,972	316.51	viss
7.	Bananas	3,149	1,326,715	3967	bunches
8.	Onion	1,595	2,014,670	9,719.65	viss
9.	Garlic	1,214	1,310,306	8,166.06	viss
10.	Ginger	2,504	2,347,111	8,966.07	viss
11.	Sun flower	6,451	32,714	47.25	viss
12.	Sesame	7,180	53,055	62.16	baskets
13.	Potatoes	4,032	6,267,714	12,037.53	viss
14.	Sweet Potatoes	4,820	3,952,272	6,177.01	viss
15.	Yam	3,263	4,327,688	15,757.06	viss
16.	Pepper	2,941	3,206,098	28,98.11	viss

Table (3) Yields production in northwest part of Myanmar in Chin state 2007-2008

State name	Male	Female	Total	Area(sq.km)	Destiny (per sq.km)
Chin	252,579	265,565	518,144	36,019	14

Table (4) Estimated population by sex and population destiny in Chin State 2005

	Slash and burn method in northwest part of Myanmar
Sr.	State and Division	1988	2005	Progress
1.	Kachin	1	4	3
2.	Kayah	-	1	1
3.	Kayin	1	2	1
4.	Chin ( Northwest part of Myanmar)	-	-	1
5.	Sagaing	-	3	6
6.	Taninthayi	1	3	2
7.	Bago ( East )	1	3	2
8.	Bago ( West )	1	2	1
9.	Magway	3	5	2
10.	Mandalay	3	10	7
11.	Mon	1	2	1
12.	Rakhine	1	2	1
13.	Yangon	8	12	4
14.	Shan ( South )	1	3	2
15.	Shan ( North )	1	1	-
16.	Shan ( East )	-	1	1
17.	Ayeyawady	2	6	4
	TOTAL	27	64	37

Table (5) Universities and colleges in States and divisions in Myanmar

PS: As table shown that there is no any university and collage in Chin State

Sr.	Townships	Villages	Population
1.	Hakha	74	66,203
2.	Falam	163	77,539
3.	Thantlang	84	62,138
4.	Teddim	134	86,153
5.	Tongzang	67	23,151
6.	Matupi	120	45,031
7.	Mindat	197	42,425
8.	Kanpalet	114	19,374
9.	paletwa	407	85,370
10.	Rihkhuadar	17	5,136
11.	Rezua	28	14,639
12.	Cikha	27	9,981
	TOTAL	1,533	533,140

Table (6) Estimated of townships and villages population in Chin State

PS: 10.Rihkhudar, 11.Rezua, 12. Cikha are Junta military era designed building new townships

B. Agknowledgements

First and foremost, words couldn’t express my thanks to UNEP- EPLP Eco-Peace leadership Centre at Korea. They provided me financial and technical support to do this study of slash and burn method in northwest part of Myanmar. And I would like to thank my colleagues while I was studied in 2007 Mekong school from Thailand, who sent me the Eco-Peace Leadership program application form and all the necessary information that I needed. Moreover, I can not leave out to give my heartfelt gratitude to UNEP- EPLP coordinator Ms.Jung-In SEO who took a great care of me with sympathy, compassion and much understanding my country political situation. There are numerous other people whom I must thank for their kindness; the indigenous Chin people where I went for the field’s research site. The ones Mountain Oasis resort who helped me out in whatever I needed.

I awe a great debt to thank to my advisor professor Dr. Kwaw IL Chyun. Who imparted and advice me a long time to choose solid title of the environmental knowledge and my research paper during I was visit the field’s research site in Northwest part of Myanmar.

Also I cannot forget to thank to UNEP- EPLP staff who took care of me and loved me as a good friend during our abstract presentation at Korea, And Asia-Pacific Regions friend alls who joined the Leadership Program.

Last but not least, I would like to express my humble gratitude to my mother organization, the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) and board of director Salai Victor Biak Lian from whom I acquired much knowledge to work for my country; My hero mother who always encouraged me while I was doing my research studies and to my nephew Siang Khuit from USA and Dr. John who gave me much edited my research paper.

I. Abstract

1. Necessity study

Myanmar is taking measure for development of agriculture as the base and all round development of other sector of the economy as well. The agriculture fulfills the food requirement of the citizens. It also contributes much towards their socio- economic development and rural development. Although, the military government misses their goals of rural development for the indigenous Chin people who they are lived in northwest part of Myanmar. (See table 1,2)

The indigenous Chin people have been practiced slash and burn method agriculture in since earliest period. About 75% of the lands are being used in these agriculture sectors. The result of the area northwest parts of Myanmar’s

fertile, land, forests, environments and weather condition is rapidly changes. The forests became bald mountain. (See photos pages 6,7) The forest are rapidly became bald mountain and had to changes deforestation. The land is seriously faced with environmental crisis problem. Several years occurs flood in raining season as floating with rich of fertile as affected soil erosions. The river is gang dry and the streams are deprived in summer period, it’s directly affected agriculture sector. There is not possible of double cropping cultivation in the areas. Wildlife also destructive such as included reptile and mammal animals, birds’ rats multiply eating paddy fields and crops in farmlands. And drought also badly affected in these areas. This is the main foods security for the people in the areas had been in threat. In northwest part of Myanmar so far famine has not started but there is certainly a serious imminent famine in these areas.

On the otherwise, military junta government absent nothing to supports educations and technology, machineries and infrastructure for purpose development of agriculture sector in the northwest part of Myanmar. In recent years 2008 until September the researcher estimated the populations of about 60% the Chin indigenous people are facing shortage of food and 100,000 over who lived in refugees’ status to fleeing in neighboring countries such as Thailand Malaysia and India. The military junta government has not address this problem. Instead, they have lands confiscated for theirs own government economic growth thriving tea plantation in Chin hills and prohibited to organize by environmental and conservation for local NGOs.

1.1. Education Sector

In the union of Myanmar, Uplift of the education of the entire nation has been laid down as national objective and every effort has been made of put the objective into reality in order that the nation and the race will be able to stand tall among nations of the world. The objective of building universities and colleges throughout the country including the border areas is enabling the youth to pursue higher education within their arms reach. However, the northwest part of Myanmar Chin State the young Chin students have no opportunity to learning higher education and no any university and college building infrastructure in Chin state. See table (5).

1.2. Cultivation in Chinland.

The main occupation of the people of Chin is cultivation. It is the main work for their living. So, 85 percent populations of the state are cultivators in Chinland. The farms which they cultivate are on the hilly grounds. The farms on the hilly grounds mostly are cornfields. (See photos pages 6)

1.3. Method of cultivation

Many trees both small and big trees thorns and grasses covered the hilly grounds. So the first step farmers cut down them all in January. When all are dried up they are burned with fire in March. After burning them all they cultivate the ground and seed sprout the weeds also come up among the crops. Therefore before the time of harvest comes the weeds are rooted up two times in June and in August. Then the farmers harvest the crops from November to December. The farmers stop to cultivate the farms at every three years to five years it is depend on good soil and move to another place and cultivate the new hilly grounds. They stop to cultivate their farms in order to reforest their farms because all the good soil is eroded by rain. When their farms are reforested during 7- 8 years after they again cultivate their farms. (See table 3)

Hardship and Problems

The farmers faced many hardships and problems in struggling their living. Though they work hard the whole year round their farms do not produce enough crops to eat. Due to lack of enough good soil the farms cannot help produce enough crops because government cannot help cultivate the ground as needed. Due to failure of rain fall in time there is no good harvest. The farm sometimes can no longer reforest to cultivate again. Therefore farmers cannot cultivate the new place which would produce enough crops to eat.

II. Introduction: summery of development and execution of study

1.Background

Chinland is is located in northwest part of Myanmar and lie between the longitude 92.15˚east and 97˚east, and in between the latitude18˚ north. Bangladesh is to it’s southwest, Manipur state of India is to it’s northwest. Magwe and Sagaing division (Myanmar) is to it’s east, Arakan state is to it’s south. The total land areas is (13907) square miles and practically, there is neither plain nor flat land in Chin state. The Manipur river is the main biggest river in Chin state which is flow into Chindwin river. The highest mountain in Chinland is Khawnutum (Mt.Victorai) its 10,500 feet high above see level.The Chin are composed with several tribe such as Asho,Cho, Khumi, Kuki, Laimi, Lusai, Zomi tribes and so on. The population of present Chin land is 518,144. Majorities of Chin are Christian in 90% and devotee of Buddhism and a little of Chin are spiritualism. Deforestation has been a major concern in Chin state Since the earliest period. (see table.4)

The indigenous Chin people had been practicing terracing and slash and burn method agriculture cultivation. Besides, the method has made the people to work on farm lands for three to eight years depending on quality of the soil. At the same time, farmers have no permanent settlements around the farm. Thus, slash and burn method of agriculture is destroying the forest of Chin State, causing soil erosion and depletion of fertility. Periodic droughts, floods, landslides, and cyclone sometimes have devastating effect on agriculture. For example Narkis cyclone hits Irrawaddy delta zone and Yangon district in May 2008. In Chin land, most of forests clearing comprise of agriculture sector in 70%, commercial logging sector 15%, cutting down trees to collect orchids in 10%, and livestock usage account for 5%. Chin land produces not enough food to feed its entire population. In the absent of military Junta participation, there has been lack of development in agriculture sector infrastructure and technical support. The indigenous people also have lack of environmental and cultivation knowledge. Many of the indigenous Chin people go hungry and the rural households do not have any land or livestock. For example, many thousand of the indigenous Chin people are living as refugees' status in neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and India. The authorities have renovated dam, reservoir, and built new water pump from rivers and stream and taken other measures to improve irrigation. More remain to be done in this regard.

Myanmar is known as the strongest Buddhism country in the world. According to latest estimation the population of Myanmar is 56 million. More then two third of the population are ethnic Bama and the rest are minority ethnic groups. 89.2 % of the people are Buddhists, 5% Christianity, and the rest are Muslims and others.

2. Objectives

1. To make sure scientific research about environmental impact assessment from the focus areas and to published the result of its impact.

2. To educate environmental awareness like conservation and protection; know how training workshop should be arranged throughout among the indigenous Chin people.

3. To help establish systematic rehabilitation of forest, forest product, and guard for the protection of forest reserve of its indwellers.

4. To take good care of the grassroots culture and social standard of the native.

5. Actively including farmer and children so that they find better ways to improve knowledge of environmental impact.

IV. Content and Results: activities or contents of study/ research result result and discussions:

The northwest part of Myanmar, Chiland is the most under developed state in Myanmar. The reasons are one, most inhabitants in Chin state belong to Chri- stianity and therefore do not share Buddhism with ethnic Bamar group; inaccessibility by car due to mountainous terrain; three, the government does not put any efforts in development projects. It can also be attributed to Chin state having no natural resources compare to other regions in Myanmar.

Slash and burn agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the majority of the population. Rice, corns, peppers, sesame and potatoes are planted. Near flatlands and riverbeds, there are rice paddies but these only feed individual families that farm them. Since there is little knowledge of productive planting methods and seeds selection, harvest season usually bring.

1. Slash and Burn Methods

Summer is the best time to start working on farming. After a large area of forest trees are cleared, the area is burned within three to four weeks. Then, planting of various seeds usually followed. Rainy season is the best time to reap various fruits. In order for to have a good harvest, it is best to clear weeds and grass from over taking crops. Three acres of farmland is require to sustain a family of five because one area only brings in 60 bushels of rice.

April and May is the best time to plant seeds. There is, however, different time and techniques in planting seeds depending on the weather and area. On a good soil, farmers can work on the land for three to seven years. Lands that are work on for more than eight years no longer produce good harvests, which usually results in cutting down trees and making new area for planting seeds. In areas where there is bad soil composition the place had to be abandon after three years. Crops that require large amount of fertilizers often failed because farmers could not afford them. This kind of farming methods have been used for very long. Since this has been the preferred method of farming since eighteenth century, today Chinland’s mountains and valleys are without trees. Forest are now empitied of trees.m It is estimated that over 70% of Chinland forest no longer hold wild animal nad trees. Thus there is no longer a consistent partern of rain in Chin state. It is now harder for a family to depend their crops and to reap enough crops for one year. Although the government has Agricultural and Forestry department, it does not provide real help in terms of educating farmers, financial assistance, and providing fertilizers. Religious institutions try to fill the gap but without government approval, their success has been limited. Further, the Chins themselves do not have any kind of education in successful farming.

There are two methods in which the Chins work on the land. It can be divided based on northern and southern Chin methods. Northern Chins only stay, that is, live in the farm, during the season. After harvest, they went back of their villages. They break and get rested during winter months; this is also a time for them to visit families.

However, there is a big difference in which southern Chins farm. The whole family live in their farm during the season; it also function as their home. Corn is the main crop. There is little rice terrace farming. Rice is only eaten in special occasion such as when other family’s members visit. Since their main diet is made of corn, there is a high proportion of people over 50 years of age with digestive problems and cancer. In Kaidaw village of Mindat township, a cemetary headstone outnumber the local population. The main reason for that is lack of food. In this area, villagers can typically work on their land for tree to eight years depending on the soil. for instance, at one villager I interviewed a lady how does she bath and the response was only two during in her lifetime. Their skin is generally is dark due to a lack of proper bathing. Going to schools, hospital and churches does not exist beacuse they still retain their animist belief system. When one person gets sick, he usually blames the illness to a punishment from bad spirits. There is a lot to go in terms of education. communication and transportation in this area. And they still pratice revenge killing, a practice that is obsolete in other parts of Chin state. It’s likely that this is due to competition for scarce resources. Everyone here wants to get the best of land, the area of land that has fertile soil. And the concept of having land title is still absent, which results in people arguing and fighting largely based on claims that the disputed land belongs to a deceased grandmother. Some of these disputes result in deaths. Some result in the stronger party forcefully taking the disputed land. When the weaker party produce a strong son, that son takes revenge of the former victor. Thus, there is a vicious cycle of fighting for land and family honour. In present day, revenge killing is still practice in some parts of Chin state and hard to prevent when occur. During my research trip, the entire population of two villages perished because of revenge killing. I asked one villager why he was carrying a heavy sack of corn and slinging a hunting rifle on his shoulder. He responded by saying that, others might take his life and thus had to be prepared. Just like this man, many of the villages still live a life that is fraught with dangers.

There is fifteen percent deforestation in Chin state. The main reason for that is clearing trees and forests for farming. Chin state is made-up of deep valleys and high mountains, which tends to produce a cold climate. December is the coldest month with temperature reaching negative five centigrade. In the whole of Chin state, electricity is only available for use under 600 Mega watts. Only cities get electricity at nights, while villages get no access. Under rural development project, UNDP provides some villages with mini hydro power. Since the majority of Chins do not have electricity, woods and other natural resources are used to cook food. Trees are also cut in order to collect……, Because there is INGOs do not operate in Chin state, there is a lack of education on environmental conservation and protection.

III. Methodology: recourses, input and methods for study / research.

This research is based on slash and burn method agriculture from the northwest part of Myanmar, Chin State. The study includes not only agriculture and forest conservation but also gives concern and care for the people. The research is done on the advantages, disadvantages and the effects brought by the slash and burn agriculture system, which is being practice by using the Northwest part of Myanmar and the indigenous Chin people as research subjects.

The researcher uses the secondary resources such as reference books, Internet, magazines notes for background and some of the data information. But the main topic is done by the researcher's fields work and interviewing the immediate related people, as far as the risk could be taken and the local farmer with in effected the slash and burn agriculture cultivation areas. The concerned persons from near and far are met directly discussing about the topic.

2. Future Plan

In order for NGOs to succeed, government approval and having freedom of movement is essential. Since the military junta government does not support the work that NGOs perform, it is especially hard for ethnic populations to gain knowledge when it comes to environmental conservation. The military government prohibits foreigners from traveling to northwest part of Myanmar. The slash and burn method of agriculture has cleared large area of forests in that part. This has caused no rain for long period and generally made life much harder for people. Thus, there is a great need for education. Without government support, the task of preventing environment degradation and protecting forests will require help from every facet of society. The ideal goal is to hold seminar, workshop, and to produce books and VCDs that can be easily be understood by children, farmers, and students as well.

V. Practical Application Plan

1. Influences to the community

Rising cost of living and arbitrary and repressive policies of the ruling military junta are driving Chin people into deeper and deeper humanitarian crisis, causing serious alarm of hunger and famine for communities across Myanmar western frontier.Recently in Chin State indicates that more and more communities are finding themselves affected by rising cost of living arbitary and excessive tax, forced labor programs repressive policies of the state peace and development council SPDC. In many parts of Chin state, hunger and famine are becoming a reality for the first time since the army takeover 19 years ago as previously selfsufficient communities are no longer able to make ends meet. Ordinary Chin families such as farmers who account for the majority and make up the backbone of local economy are worst affected by the crisis due to various restrictions and bans, as well as excessive taxes imposed on them by military authorities. In parts of Falam township of northern Chin State farmers are completely banned from clearing new forests for the 2008 cultivation season while imposition of restrictive rules and arbitrary taxes are preventing other communities such as those in the southern township of Matupi from continuing to make their sole and traditional means of livelihood.

Additionally, many rural communities are bracing for, or are already dealing with, the rapid boom of crop-eating rodent population with the flowering of bamboos, which has historically driven local communities into disastrous famine every half a century or so.

Urban residents such as those living in major towns are facing similar economic crisis. Rising commodity prices and living costs, compounded by various forms of arbitrary and often excessive taxes are taking a toll on Chin families. Apart from excessively large sums exacted for property and municipal taxes, families are required to pay as much as 30, 000 Kyats equal to US$ 28 per household per year in order to be exempt from government-sponsored forced labor programs such as porter and construction related to development and military purposes. This does not include other 'donations' that each family must pay on a regular basis such as for the cost of militia and vigilante training conducted by the army in towns and villages across the state. In total, each family ends up paying as much as 300,000 to 400, 000 Kyats to the military government.(Possibility exchange rates is 1250 Kyat equal US$ 1)

2. The government policy (Brief story of Myanmar political background)

Myanmar became an independent country in 1948 January 4. Since then the country had been ruled by the military junta government. In 1980, the country economy began to grow as the Socialist government related restrictions on foreign aids, but by late 1980s the commodity began to fall.

In 1981, NeWin retired as president but remained in power as chairman of the BSPP (Burma Socialist People Party) until his sudden unexpected announcem-ent to step down on 25^th July 1988. Then General Saw Maung took up the position but brutally killed thousands of students and civilians in March and June 1988. Consequently the protests and demonstration broke out throughout the country. Since then universities, colleges and schools had been closed for a year. When reopened, in 1993, the second students uprising broke out again that all universities and colleges were closed again until 2000. Although Daw Aung San Su Kyi, the leader of Notional League for Democracy (NLD) party won the election in 1990, the military continued to take up the ruling position.

In August 2003, ex-Prime Minister, General Khin Nyuint announced “the seven steps route map to Democracy” which the government claimed to be the

process of implementing. But the problem is that there is no timeline drawn for

the plan. There are many things need to put into consideration for this. The military government reconvened the national convention for the first time in February 17, 1998 and again attempted to rewrite the constitution in 2003. In 2005 November the government was able to effort to move the capital city from Yangon to an unnamed location near Kyatpin just outside of Pyinmana to a newly design capital city, which was officially named Naypyidaw on March 27, 2006, on the Arm Force Day. The government is able to manage the high up cost of all these by using up the country’s rich natural resources and public’s treasure not only for their own gain but also to make their power stronger. Meanwhile, the civilians suffer much but kept silent out of fear. But by 2007 September, the fear of death and torture could not keep the monks and civilians from protesting against the inhumane rule of the military junta.

2. Migration and Displacement

“We are compelled to leave our village because we have nothing left to eat.”

For families that have already depleted their food supplies and livestock, fleeing across the border into India’s Mizoram State offers the only hope for them to continue to survive. In response to reports of such flight, Chin Human Rights Organization CHRO conducted a week-long visit to the Mizoram-Chin State border in March 2008 where it found more than 400 people belonging to 93-families from 22 villages of the southern township of Paletwa, Chin State taking temporary shelter in four border villages inside Mizoram. They included 50-60 children, of which half were school age. The exodus from this particular area of Chin State started in October 2007, and there are indications that more people from the area will resort to coming into Mizoram in the near future. It is likely that there could be more communities who have already crossed the border into Mizoram whom CHRO has not been able to reach. Since CHRO’s visit in March, it has been reported that an additional 200 to 300 new people have arrived there.

VII. Practical application plan

1. Social effects

A. Background

The social life of Chin is very simple. The Chins are social able and friendly in every aspect of living. They have friendly relationship with one another. They help one another family. They are sharing both gladness and sadness with one another. They are honest and faithful. For example, When a certain man or women dies in a village the whole villagers go to the house of the dead person to condole the family of the dead person and share their sadness with them. They stay with them until the dead person is buried. The villagers take responsibility of digging grave and everything which is needed for the burial of the dead person. They help them in many ways.

B. Effect of social living

Life has change to the age of up to date living. The desire of giving and getting are brought into the hearts of junta government by the age of up to date living. In other words giving and getting are bribery and graft. The desire of giving and getting or bribery and graft are deeply rooted in the hearths of holder of authority and powers are junta government.

People can not get job without giving money to those who can offer jobs. So, in general when people apply for jobs in the office of government the give first a certain amount of money to those who can offer jobs. Only after giving them money they get jobs which they apply.

The desire of giving and getting influence the people of northwest part of Myanmar the whole Chin State. Therefore, the though of giving and getting became as their usual living. They are greatly demoralized. They are no longer honest and faithful.

2. Economic effect

To day prices of groceries and household goods are risen higher and higher one month after another. Every essential goods and clothing for household living is getting higher every month. So household living is very hard. It is no longer easy any more as it was in the past.

Monthly income of a worker who is working as paid worker in a factory is no longer enough for his monthly consumption as ti was in the past. He has to work additional work in order to get enough money to earn his living and to take care of his family. Likewise monthly income of a certain man who is working in the office of government is no longer enough for his for his monthly consumption. He has to work overtime in such a way that he would be able to earn his family and his living.

Money has no value any more as it was in the past. The value of money is decreasing and become worthless and valueless. Myanmar currency Kyat one can't buy nothing.People can not buy what they want to buy. They can not get what they want to get. Therefore, cheating, telling, lying, stealing and corruption take place in the hearths of many people.

3. Political effects

At present time,The military junta government of Myanmar is problem maker for the people of Chin rather than helper. The junta controlled everything in the Chinland. As the Chin people are under the control of the junta they do not have freedom to work for their own benefit. The military government gave the Chin people many hardship and difficulties in every aspect which made them to neglect to work for their daily living as needed because military government forced them to work for the junta.

Here are the examples. The people of old Hakha (capital city in Chinland) were forced to cultivate potatoes field for the junta. A group of soldier asked them to go to the jungle to cultivate and make potatoes field. As they work the whole year round in potatoes field for their own living. As they do not have time to work for themselves they became poor and needy. There are many other villages that face the same difficulties and problems as they are also forced to work for the military.

The villagers are taken as porter by the military. When the grounds of soldiers go out for patrol the villagers are forced to carry their properties and luggage from one place to another. As they carry the luggage’s of military they face many hardship and difficulties. They are not given wages of carrying luggage’s of military.

The junta government collects money from every household and every family in Chinland from the project of plantation. The central junta government has very big project to plant a certain kind of tree which produce juice. Every family and every householder is forced to give a big amount of money for this project. The junta government collects money very often from every householder.

Due to different kinds of difficulties and problem the people of Chin are becoming poorer and needier. So many people leave their homes and migrate to lower Myanmar in order to take care of their living easier. Life in the Chinland is becoming harder one year after another because cost of living is very high and unequal gap of their incomes and money inflations.

VIII. References: Literatures / Documents / Websites

- Sustainable development in agriculture and education sectors

- National Economics Encyclopaedia: Asia and the pacific Myanmar (Burma)

- UNDP Myanmar agriculture sector review September 2002

- Handbook on human resources development indicator

UNFPA 2006 (special edition)

- www.mofa.gov.mm

- www.chinrelief.or

UNEP-EPLC Eco- peace leadership centre Kangwon national university