The New Mon State Party (NMSP) is building a 57 kilometer road between Taung-bauk and Thanmyar Seik Kan villages in Kyainnseikyi Township, Karen State, say local sources and party officials. The road, which began construction in October, is being paid for by voluntary contributions from area residents.

The road, which passes though nine villages and runs near at least twenty others, has until now been largely impassable for cars and motorcycles. Motor vehicles do use it, say local sources, but must travel slowly and most traffic goes by bullock cart. All the villages are in an area under NMSP control according to a 1995 ceasefire with Burma’s military regime.

The construction began on October 20th. Residents from Kaw Pa Laut village say three miles have already been completed.

According to a highly placed NMSP source in the area, 400 million kyat is needed for upgrading the road. Village headmen are responsible for supplying their contribution, and families are being asked to make contributions amounts that vary depending on family income.

Most family are paying 20,000 kyat, said the NMSP source. A resident of one of the nine villages along the road said that he was paying 35,000 kyat, but that some others in his village were paying less.

The contributions are voluntary, say two IMNA sources that live in the area, but most villagers are contributing because they want the repairs to move forward. The area is home to thirty villages and at least 3,000 households, said the NMSP official.

The NMSP source also said that this project would be repeated over the next three years, with repairs made following every rainy season. The road is being made of stones and soil, not concrete, and will be damaged by heavy rainfall.

“Building the road is an idea that comes from the villagers,” said the NMSP official. “The villagers want us to be the leaders that build the road. It is not an NMSP wish or idea, it comes from the villagers.”

Villagers seem to agree with this sentiment. “We are not forced by the NMSP. We want the NMSP to lead the building of this road,” said another man from one of the nine villages along the road. A villager form Taung-bauk concurred: “we want them to build the road because it is good for us to travel. Otherwise it is very difficult for us to go anywhere.”