A mountaineering expedition in northern Kachin state financed by Burmese billionaire Tay Za's Htoo Foundation successfully scaled the summit of Burma's second highest mountain earlier this month. The team that included five Americans and one Burmese national became the first group to reach the ice capped summit on September 7, according to reports from the press.
The expedition that involved 60 porters was being undertaken while Burma's military engaged in heavy fighting with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in the far north of Kachin state of Putao District's Machyangbaw (also known as Machanbaw) Township. According to locals, recent fighting in Putao has displaced hundreds and was fought on land that Tay Za is pursuing for a large scale gold mining project, south of Gamlang Razi.
In early September, nearly the entire population of Nhka Ga village located near Machyangbaw town fled to the forest after the military attacked the local KIA units stationed nearby. The displaced are facing increasingly dire conditions, hiding in the nearby forests with little food and shelter, Rev. Hkalam Samsun, Kachin Baptist Convention general secretary told the Kachin News Group last week. The area's remote location and ongoing hostilities have made sending aid to the internally displaced people (IDP) difficult.
Fighting in Putao District started in late August after Burma army IB 137 and local pro-government Kachin militia, the Rebellion Resistance Force, attacked a KIA post near Nhka Ga village.
The fighting affected the climbers’ attempt to return from the mountain’s base by helicopter to Putao town. “Civil conflict in the region of Machyangbaw has slowed the helicopter permitting process, and prevented other groups from undertaking their treks. However, the conflict poses no danger to our team,” team leader Andy Tyson wrote in a Sept. 16 posting on the expedition groups' Facebook page.
Although the conflict between the Burma army and the KIA didn’t pose a threat to the climbers, local civilians were not so lucky. Government troops operating at Nhka Ga village allegedly arrested and killed Kachin Baptist Salang Hkaw Dut and another pastor Yung Hka Khin in early September. Another pastor, Ram Mai and several neighbors were reportedly tortured before being released, according to Kachin Church officials.
According to Machyangbaw residents, the local Burma military command based in Putao is continuing a military campaign that started last month to drive KIA forces from Nhka Ga. It’s suspected they will give the territory to the pro-government Ahdang militia. The militia was named after a Rawang business man that heads the group.
The American climbers involved in the expedition made no mention of the fact their trip was financed by Tay Za, described by the US Treasury department as “a notorious regime henchman and arms dealer”. The team seemed unaware or unconcerned of his notorious background.
“Words can't express my gratitude for the generosity and kindness provided by Chairman U Tay Za, Htoo Foundation, and the countless individuals that came together to support the Gamlang Razi Expedition” climber and photographer Chris Nance wrote on the Facebook page. A posted photo shows expedition member and travel writer, Molly Loomis, on stage with Tay Za performing a song during a celebration before the expedition at Tay Za's luxurious Putao resort.
Tay Za awarded the climbers with free accommodation at any Htoo Group Hotel and free Air Bagan transport, both are companies he owns. Tay Za also paid for a large billboard ad in Rangoon promoting the climb.
Aside from his recent attempts to control large amounts of new land for gold mining, Tay Za already has extensive business interests in the Putao District; a very mountainous area known to be rich in natural resources including timber and minerals. The Irrawaddy magazine reported that he was recently granted a 100,000 acre (40,000 hectare) logging concession in Putao District by government officials. The new logging concession gives Tay Za a long stretch of pristine teak forest that until recently had been largely left untouched.
During a Naypyidaw ceremony in January, Air Bagan and Asia Green Development Bank Limited – that he also owns - made a joint 70M Kyat (US $82,000) donation to support government troops conducting offensives against KIA forces. The donation was strongly condemned by Kachin National Organization (KNO), and other civil society groups and exiles who blame Tay Za for stirring the flames of the over two-year long bloody conflict that has left more than 100,000 civilians internally displaced.
