Kachin families are going hungry as the Burmese military & government destroy and seize Kachin land. Many farmers are being forced to borrow rice at a crippling 50% interest rate to feed their families. Others are being forced to pay rent to the military to farm on their own - now confiscated - land. The government is allowing agribusinesses to exploit the lack of land rights protections in Kachin State and is ignoring villagers who are attempting to prove ownership. There will be no peace in Burma unless these disenfranchised and starving ethnic peoples are granted some self-government and safety from arbitrary use of force - and without peace there will not be progress.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 18:49:58 +0000