S.H.A.N has learnt from local sources that at least 500 head of cattle are illegally sold to China every day at Mant-Wane Village, in Mansi Township, Kachin State.
U Brangsai from Mant-Wane Village said cattle smuggling to China is affecting local people’s farms and paddy fields because the cattle graze on them as they are walked to the border. Such large numbers of cattle walking along the road to China are also causing it to deteriorate.
He said: “We have heard that if merchants want to send cattle to China they need to make payments to our village head and his team in our village.”
Sai Aik from Mant-Hway Village explained that after passing through Mant-Wane Village the cattle are taken to either Pan-Khan Village Pier or Khan-Pan Village Pier in China.
He said: “Sending more and more cattle to China is not just affecting our village, it is also affecting the villages of Mant-Mai, Mant-Moon, Mant-Wane, Nong-Loat, Nong-Swam, Nong-Moon, Nam-Hee and Son-Khar.
It is rumoured that when the merchants return from China after having sold their cattle the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) test their urine for drugs. If they are found to have used drugs they have to pay a fine of 500,000 kyats before the KIA release them. Unfortunately S.H.A.N. was unable to confirm or disprove these rumours.
Local people told S.H.A.N. that KIA Brigade Number 3 controls the area and that the cattle merchants walk from the central areas of Burma to there with their cattle. They can sell their cattle in China for a lot more than they can in Burma.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
