The Shan State is the largest land area in Myanmar, with an area of 60,155 square miles. It is teeming with natural resources and potential for expanding agricultural production.
But local youth from Taunggyi the capital of Shan State complain, there are no job opportunities and a growing drug problem.
They claim the last two governments have done nothing to bring more development to their region. They insist the election must result in better governance for the Shan State.
Sai Naunt a local youth told BNI “we want the new government to fight against narcotic drugs and create more employment opportunities for youths in Shan State after the 2020 General Election.” He added “narcotic drugs are the enemy of the entire country”. The main drug problem in Taunggyi is derived from the increasing use of methamphetamines usually taken in the form of pills.
We expect the leaders who can fulfill our expectations instead of the former ones who give lip service only,” said Sai Naunt, a local youth from Taunggyi.
The importance of linking drug abuse to the lack of economic development was emphasized by
Ko Wint Htal Kaung Myat from the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security (MIPS) “Low
employment opportunity is the root cause of drug abuse by youths. Youths are getting involved in using narcotic drugs and drug trafficking.
Ma Ohmar Cho, a local from Taunggyi said: “I had big hopes for the NLD after the 2015
General Election. The NLD is unable to achieve the things that I had expected. I want to see the emergence of a new government which can really benefit the people in 2020. Livelihood is important for youths. Young graduates have no jobs. I expect more employment opportunities.”
The lack of jobs is all part of the lack of a good overall development strategy according to the MIPS official Ko Wint. “The low employment opportunity for youths is linked to weak economic, agricultural and product strategy and the lack of the government’s assistance. Take a look at the successive governments, I have not seen any significant changes in the matters pertaining to politics, development and growth yet, neither from the Thein Sein government, nor from its successor, the elected NLD government since 2015.”
Expressed his view on the 2020 election Ko Wint commented “I want a government formed after the 2020 General Election, which can bring about the real changes. I want the government which can give protection to the people when there are conflicts over land disputes between locals and the companies.“
A member of the Shan State Peace Working Group Ma Cho Thae said: “We are expecting a
government which can develop road transportation, power supply projects and the appointment of sufficient number of teachers.”
An important issue has arisen from the toxic sewage discharged by the Kyarmingyi Alcohol
factory. Farmers have been unable to use their land owing to the soil degradation caused by the factory’s sewage water. It has also been blamed for causing an increase in children suffering from respiratory diseases but the factory is still in operation. Locals say “We want a government that will stand on the side of the people when these kinds of problems arise will harmful projects.”
Many people in Taunggyi remember that before World War II, the Shan State even exported rice to the plain areas thanks to the excessive production. Now they have to import rice because the paddy production has declined due to soil degradation. Shan State has around 5.7 million acres of arable land.
Now only around two million acres of land can be used for growing. Agricultural policy has floundered. In Shan State it seems there is strong agreement that after the election people need a government to solve this problem which is linked to unemployment and the lack of development.
