- Web Master
- August 16, 2024
The
land measurements were conducted in three village-tracks under Ann township on
7 and 8 October, said a local village leader.
“The Chinese nationals accompanied by policemen came to our village to
conduct the land survey for the railway project,” he added.
The
survey team came to Sane, Mwar and Tan Tin village tracks for taking
ground measurements when 10 policemen accompanied them. Altogether three
Chinese nationals were in the team. They also measured with the
GPS.
A
Musi-Mandalay railway track is also on the card, which will connect Kyauk Phyu
which supports a number of Chinese projects including
oil & gas projects, new initiatives in the special economic zone and also
the deep sea port.
Junta
head general Min Aung Hlaing stated that the construction of Kyauk Phyu-
deep sea port- Mandalay railway track is underway. Once
the construction is completed, the flow of goods will increase, asserted the
military council chief at a meeting of the economic committee on 25 August.
He
expressed hope that the projects will contribute to the development of Myanmar.
The
land measurements for the railway project followed the initiative by the
Beijing administration.
A
young environmental activist from Ann township informed Narinjara News that
China's investment projects in Rakhine State, including the railway track, are
being implemented ignoring the rights (and benefits) of locals.
"They
have implemented some projects including the oil & gas pipelines in the
past. Under the China-Myanmar oil and natural gas projects, the resources are
taken from Rakhine State, but it has not benefited the indigenous population.
In contrast, the locals have lost their livelihood because of the projects.
Moreover, the environment has also been affected,” he added.
Many
Rakhine villagers are still deprived of due compensation as they had to hand
over their lands for all the projects.
They
now apprehend that once the railway project is completed more Chinese people
will come to Rakhine State and buy their land for business purposes. Thus they
will not only lose their lands but also their traditional culture.
The
railway project will connect Kyauk Phyu with Mandalay and finally Kunming via
Shan North Muse.
The
governments China and Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in
2011 during the days of former President U Thein Sein.
During
the National League for Democracy led government in Myanmar, China President Xi
Jinping visited the country in 2019 and signed 33 contracts including the
railway project between the two governments.
The
Kyauk
Phyu-Kunming railway project is a part of the
Chinese government's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the entire project is
estimated to cost US$8.9 billion.