Shan human rights groups have demanded a halt to a rail route construction project in Shan state because many acres of farmlands have been confiscated and because it will help strengthen the military in Shan state.

The Shan Women's Action Network (SWAN) and Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) launched a campaign against the construction of the railway route in a report about construction of railways in Shan State on August 17.

Nang Ying Han Hpa said that "people will not benefit from this railway. It will only benefit the military regime. Therefore, we would like the return of farms to locals and to stopping the rail construction."

Many farmlands, located alongside the new railway route from Mong Nai to Kengtung, have been confiscated by the regime. Locals also face other difficulties, Nang Ying Han Hpa, a spokesperson of SWAN, said.

"The negative impacts of the project include thousands of acres of farmland being confiscated with farmers becoming jobless in Shan state. With no farmland they have to work as daily labourers in other farms. They used to have enough paddy for a year because they had farms. Now survival is a problem," he added.

When locals complained against the confiscation, authorities threatened them. According to the report, the construction of the railway project is a part of the military’s strategic planning. People, who don't accept it, will be jailed.

"Local Shan people have to give food to soldiers and workers, who come from central Burma for constructing the rail route. Locals have to bring water and firewood for them. They order locals for whatever they want," Nang Ying Han Hpa said.

The reason behind the construction of the 361 kilometre railway route, which links southern to eastern Shan State, is to cut communications between UWSA troops in southern and northern Shan state. The junta wants to use the railroad for transportation of weapons and equipments. Construction started in February, Sai Ping Kham from SHRF said.

"They (Burmese army) brought tanks last year but tanks could not travel along the Asian highway road because of the steep mountains. We learnt that the commander of the tank and artillery division proposed building a new road. The military can bring tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery easily by using this railroad," he added.

This railroad will be very useful if the Burmese Army launches military operations against UWSA, ceasefire groups and other ethnic armed groups because it can bring heavy weapons, armoured vehicles, tanks, and equipments very quickly, Sai Ping Kham added.

According to the report, the railroad will pass by Mong Khop coal mine located near Chiang Rai region in Thailand. The regime and Thai investors plan to build a coal-fired power plant to generate electricity for export to neighbouring Thailand.

Not only have many local Shan people been relocated because of coal mine production but the Nam Kok River, which flows into northern Thailand, can be polluted by chemical waste because from the coal mine.