1 February 2010: Over the last 40 days local people are being forced to construct the Haka – Gan Gaw motor road by junta authorities.

Residents of Senthang hill tract of Hakha district are being forced by the Chin State Peace and Development Council to construct the motor road between Gangaw Township of Magwe Division, Surkhua village and Buzung village, said a local.

"We have been constructing this road for exactly a week. We have to bring our own food and tools for the construction because the authorities provide nothing" a local from Phaizawng village said.

The stretch of the motor road that we have to construct is about 45 miles and 32 villages in the region have to complete it before the end of summer. Those unable to go for the construction have to pay Kyat 30,000 to the authorities, said a local village headman.

The total distance between Hakha and Gangaw Road is about 100 miles – Haka to Surkhua is 50 miles, Surkhua to Bungzung, 45 miles and Bungzung to Gangaw is 10 miles.

The Chin people in this region are in a spot as this time not only coincides with the season for slash and burn cultivation but because they are also facing shortage of food.

Construction of the road was started last year by a Chin NGO, the Chin Association for Rural Development (CARD). However, the authorities stopped CARD from continuing, and forced local people to work instead.