Island farms laid waste by Mekong boats

Environment

Island farms laid waste by Mekong boats

Passing boats in the Mekong have devastated a large number of fields on the alluvial islands that emerge once a year during the dry season from November to April, according to Lahu and Shan villagers who arrived in Tachilek, opposite Maesai, recently.

"Huge waves created by huge boats had done some damage to the soya and peanut farms," said a Lahu from Paliao, a town along the western bank of the Mekong 94 km north of Tachilek, "but it could not be compared to the total destruction caused by the submersion of the islands".

The villagers explained that due to the unprecedented decline in the water level this year, the incoming vessels would hire local row-boats to measure the depth first. "The boats would then line up to make a barrier thereby causing the water level to rise up and enable the cargo vessels to make their passage," said a Shan local. "They do this 3-4 times a month causing the seasonal riverine islands to go underwater and ruin the farms."

There was no talk about compensation, agreed the sources, despite the fact that there is a Burmese unit from Mongyawng, 157 km north of Tachilek, stationed at Namkai, the main village in Paliao. "But they are there to feed on us, not to serve us," claimed one.

He said the primary school set up last year was a good case in point. "The Burma Army brought in 2 young Burmese women as teachers," he elaborated. "They teach our children, about 30 of them, only 7-8 days a month but we are required to provide 3 pails (60 liters) of rice and a salary of 900 baht (500 for one teacher and 450 for the other) per month plus some prepared dishes each day. In addition, we have to give them a viss (1.6 kg) of chicken per week."

Paliao has about 11 villages, 5 Lahu and 6 Shan, numbering some 550 households, The area had been famous in modern history for the presence of Kuomintang forces that were finally dislodged by the joint Sino-Burmese operation in 1961.