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Villagers scared of junta’s railroad construction plan between Namzang-Kengtung
The junta’s plan to build railroad between Kengtung, eastern Shan State and Namzang, southern Shan State, has shaken villagers in Kengtung who are afraid their farms will be confiscated and they will be subjected to forced labor for the construction, according to sources.
By Hseng Khio Fah
8 December 2008
On 26 October, Chairman of Shan State Peace and
Development Council, Commander of Eastern Command Brig-Gen Ya Pyae, Minister of
Rail Transportation Maj-Gen Aung Min and Deputy Minister U Pe Than came to
examine the areas between Namzang and Kengtung for the construction, according
to New Light of Myanmar.
Namteng creek running near Kholam and Nampan
creek at Kunhing were chosen for the construction sites, said a local villager
who wishes to be anonymous. “They [junta] will build rail-bridge over the
creeks.”
On the following day, the commander and the ministers met
Maj-Gen Kyaw Phyo, Commander of Kengtung-based Triangle Region Command and chose
sites to construct rail bridge on the Thanlwin (Salween) at Takaw bridge and
Tongta near Mongpiang.
The areas between Takaw to Mongpiang, 49 miles,
are full of valleys and mountains.
“Hundreds of villagers will be forced
to work for the construction,” predicted a villager.
Many people died
during the 102 -mile Loikaw-Aungban railroad construction.
Afterwards,
the junta inspected to build railway station near Kengtung University.
The areas near Keng Tung University which chosen for the station area
are owned by farmers from Na Kham village, Keng Phawng village tract, said a
villager near Kengtung University.
“We are afraid our farms and lands
will be confiscated by them [authorities]. We don’t know what to do,” said a
farmer in Na Kham.
There are many villages on the way from Namzang to
Kengtung, 208 miles. The railroad from Taunggyi to Namzang was completed only a
few years earlier.
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