U Sein Pwint, the KNPP government deputy minister of internal affairs said: “This project was agreed on when we (the KNPP) made a ceasefire agreement with the government. Because low price housing is being built throughout the country we have also participated through this project. This is not for refugees [from the Thai side of the Thai-Burma border].”

According to the agreement between the KNPP and the government the standard village of low priced housing where the Mayyu stream flows in to the Thanlwin River in Hsa Taw Township is only for IDPs.

When a Kantarawaddy Times reporter went to the village on 4th January she found that only 20 three-person houses had been constructed. The school building, clinic, water supply infrastructure and farms had not yet been completed.

Lweze, Secretary 1 of the Karenni Refugee Committee said: “The place for the school is on the hillside. Although there are plans for the school what about the clinic? Has it been considered yet? When the IDPs return all the essential services and support systems should be ready for them.”

Currently people are felling teak trees in the area to sell them and clearing trees for farmland. This could lead to future deforestation, which could cause the incoming villagers hardship in the future.

Villagers from the western bank of the Thanlwin River have been banned from felling trees on the eastern bank of the river in the area of the new village. The KNPP will take action against those who do not obey the ban according to a statement issued by the KNPP government’s internal affairs department on 30th December 2014.

Construction of the standard village, which is a pilot project, was started after the signing of the ceasefire agreement between the government and the KNPP on 17th May 2012.

Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI