People on Ledo Road in Hukawng Valley in Kachin State have been facing land disputes for over a decade. In 2004 the Union government designated 21,890 square miles of Hukawng as a tiger reserve. In 2016, the government allowed Yuzana Company to implement an agriculture zone in some areas in the wildlife sanctuary.

As a result, locals faced many difficulties in farming and lost their lands. The BNI asked the locals about their hopes that the new government would solve long-standing land disputes.

Daw La Phine Nam Hsaing from Tayone village in Tanaing Township

It will be better if the representatives and the government understand the feelings of the people. We can do farming only when we have Form-7. But the authorities seize land even if we have Form-7. We want the government to provide protection for our ancestral lands on which we have been doing farming since our forefathers. If possible, we want the government to reclaim the lands designated as the wildlife sanctuary for locals.

U Khun Naw from Shinlone village in Tanaing Township

The majority of cases in our region are land disputes. We want the government to tackle land disputes and to give priority to the indigenous local people rather than businessmen and entrepreneurs.

U Mone Dwe from Panet village in Tanaing Township

Whichever party takes office, we want representatives who can work for the region, our ethnic people and the government which can serve the interest of the people. It will be the best if we get the representatives and the government which can perform the regional development tasks without discrimination between the urban and rural.