Rice shortage forcing more people to leave

One of the main reasons for massive departures into Thailand has been alluded by Shan relief workers in Chiangmai as the shortage of rice, the staple food in most Asian countries.

In Kunhing township, some 320 km from the Chiangmai border, the price of rice has shot up almost twice from 5,500 kyat ($ 5.5) per 60-liter bag to more than 10,000 ($ 10) within the last few months.

This is in spite of the fact that the price in Kengtawng, its southern neighbor, is 49,50 - 5,500 kyat. "However, the Army has not allowed people to move even the paddy bran, let alone rice, out from the township," said a refugee from Kunhing in Fang, 150 km north of Chiangmai.

A report from Kengtawng concurred with what he said. "We have surpluses here," it reads, "but the Burmese army told us we would be punished if we could not provide them (with rice) when they need it."

Almost 1,000 out of 5,230 arrivals in Fang from January to June are from Kunhing.

Other reasons pointed out by the relief workers are the ongoing recruiting campaign by the resistance and subsequent basic military trainings that have prompted the Burma Army to crack down on the local populace.