VOICE OF SOCIAL CHANGE “MAP OF LOCAL NEEDS” THE RESULTS OF THE COMMUNITY RESEARCH BURMA / MYANMAR NOVEMBER 2014 KALAW AND NYUANG SHWE TOWNSHIPS COMMUNITY RESEARCH CONCERNING THE PROBLEMS AND NEEDS vWHAT? OF LOCAL POPULATIONS IN 2 TOWNSHIPS OF SOUTHERN SHAN NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION FROM POLAND: PROJEKT BIRMA / OTHER SPACE FOUNDATION TOGETHER WITH 2 LOCAL CBO-s: [Date] vWHO? GREEN RIGHTS ORGANISATION (GRO) FROM AUNGBAN AND JUSTICE MOVEMENT FOR COMMUNITY (JMC) FROM NYUANG SHWE FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE CONSULATIONS WITH LOCAL CIVIL SOCIETY IN vWHY? SOUTHERN SHAN STATE, IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED THAT THERE IS A CONSIDERATE LACK OF ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THE REAL NEEDS OF THE LOCAL POPULATIONS IN THE REGION. THIS REPORT ATTEMPTS TO FILL THIS GAP vHOW? THIS REPORT IS BASED ON 213 OF SURVEYS CONDUCTED IN 2 TOWNSHIPS OF SOUTHERN SHAN STATE (KALAW AND NYAUNG SHWE) 2 TOWNSHIPS IN SOUTHERN vWHERE? SHAN STATE, BURMA/MYANMAR: KALAW AND NYUANG SHWE 2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN TWO TOWNSHIPS OF SHAN STATE, KALAW TOWNSHIP AND NYAUNG SHWE, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES AND THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. TO DESIGN A MAP OF INLE AND KALAW AREAS, FOCUSED ON THE MAIN CHALLENGES THAT THE RESIDENTS OF PARTICULAR VILLAGES FACE. O DEMONSTRATE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONDUCT TARGETED RESEARCH RATHER T , RESARCH THAN OVERGENERALISE AND MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHOLE REGIONS. TO PROVIDE LOCAL RESEARCHERS, CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND INTERNATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS WITH DATA, WHICH FOCUSES ON ISSUES, WHICH MOST AFFECT LOCAL COMMUNITY, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO TAILOR THEIR ACTIVITIES TO SUIT LOCAL NEEDS. METHODOLOGY In this research, both qualitative as well as quantitive data analysis is applied COLLABORATIVE FACILITATION METHOD Local researchers (civil society leaders from partner organisations JMC and GRO) decided to use “COLLABORATIVE FACILITATION METHOD” (CFM) introduced to them by E and Z. Czwartosz during a training, which took place last year 1. CFM requires the participants and facilitators to conduct a brainstorm session concerning community problems and potential solutions. In a later stage, they narrow the problems down. Ultimately, they reach an agreement and focus on one problem. This method was used by trainers/researchers during trainings that they conducted between May and October 2014. In total 30 trainings were conducted. SURVEY • 213 respondents (92 from Inle area and 121 from Kalaw area) participated in the survey. • Closed questionnaire, prepared by local researchers, lists 11 problems that local communities face. • Survey participants where asked to prioritise the problems listed IN-DEPTH.INTERVIEWS • In November 2014, project evaluator, Martyna Gacek-Świecik, met with three researchers/trainers and six project participants from each region in order to conduct in- depth interviews in villages in Kalaw and Inle regions. • The goal of these meetings was to comprehensively discuss problems, which their communities listed as those that most affect them. 1 Detailed description of method and their implementation into activities of Projekt Birma last project can be found here , http://projektbirma.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/report-civic-education-in-myanmar-challenges-and-opportunities.pdf , page 29. 3 LOCAL PARTNERS RESARCH GREEN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION (GRO) / KALAW TOWNSHIP is a community-based organisation (CBO) operating mostly in Southern Shan state. It has been created in 2010 in Aungban (Kalaw Township). GRO focuses on environmental preservation (e.g. GRO members work on preserving genetically unmodified seeds, planting trees in areas affected by large-scale deforestation), environmental education (e.g. promotion of natural farming techniques), advocacy. GRO also acts as a watchdog (e.g. exposing land- grabbing networks and illegal mining). GRO members are active participants in the PARTNERS LOCAL : Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in the region. JUSTICE MOVEMENT FOR COMMUNITY / INLE LAKE is a community-based organisation (CBO) operating around Inle Lake (Nyuang Shwe township). Members of Justice Movement for Community (JMC) are mostly Inthar; they live and conduct their activities in villages around the lake. Their main activities focus on Civic and Electoral Education, advocacy (against the destruction of local environment), capacity-building for local leaders and assistance provided to local communities in their negotiations with the local government. § ONE COMMON FACTOR BETWEEN THE VILLAGES WHERE GRO AND JMC HAVE CONDUCTED TRAININGS WAS THAT THE LOCAL POPULATION HAS NEVER HAD ANY OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH WORKSHOPS § THERE WAS OVER FIVE HUNDRED LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS IN THE TRAININGS CONDUCTED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT IN 2014 § AS WILL BE DISCUSSED FURTHER, ONE OF THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE CONSULTATION WITH THE LOCAL CBOS WAS THAT EVEN IF ANY TRAININGS TAKE PLACE, THE PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT THE KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE à WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF LOCAL CIVIC COMMITTEES WE WANTED TO CHANGE THIS STATUS QUO 4 RESEARCH: MAP OF KALAW TOWNSHIP MAP : KALAW TOWNSHIP 5 RESEARCH: BAW SAI AREA - lack of human security BAW SAI lies in north-east of the Kalaw township. This report will focus on BAW SAI in particular, because in the process of gathering data, it has been established that it is: § one of the most UNDER-RESEARCHED areas of Kalaw township § at the same time, it is affected by GRAVE AND SYSTEMATIC HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS Baw Sai covers an area of 14 miles form South to North and 10 miles from East to West (yellow colour on the map of Kalaw Township on page 4). It is comprised of 25 villages with the RESARCH population of around 20 000 people. It is located 44 miles from Taunggyi, capital of Shan state. Despite being situated nearby some of Myanmar’s most frequently visited tourist routes (only 20 miles from Heho airport, 45 miles form Inle Lake and 7 miles south from famous Pindaya cave), there is practically no available information about the situation of the local populations in the area. Baw Sai is mostly inhabited by the Danu ethnic group. As demonstrated by the surveys and direct interviews with six residents of villages around Baw Sai, the main problem in the area are ILLEGAL MINES that extract minerals such as lead, silver, copper, iron. In the area where the research has been conducted, there are 25 villages and double that number of : BAW SAI AREA SAI BAW : Photos:Mines in BAW SAI area: Ta Tar Kan village and Phoo Yee villages According to interviews only TWO OUT OF FIFTY MINES HAVE PERMISSION to legally operate in Baw Sai, while the rest of mines have been secured by the unshakable cycle of corruption. Eainda, leader of Green Rights Organisation says that “most of the investment comes from Chinese businessman and Myanmar cronies”. Mines are situated inside or nearby the villages and they have very negative direct impact on the daily live of local populations (e.g. destroy agriculture and poison water resources). Baw Sai residents are in constant risk of losing their life and health. Mine explosions often damage villages infrastructure, private property and have negative impact on people’s health (e.g in many cases residents got hurt by explosions during their daily route for water; the number of reported cases of skin diseases is increasing). Also, presence of Chinese migrants who work in illegal mines results in tensions with the local community. Baw Sai resident feel insecure. According to interviewed villagers, violence against woman has increased and serious cases of missing woman from village rises the question about the appearance of human trafficking channel in Baw Sai. After consultation with local partner organisation (GRO) we decided that in the section describing Kalaw Townishp this research will focus and prioritise description of problems of Baw Sai. The main reason is the alarming number of abuses suffered by local residents and lack of any accessible information, which will present main challenges that local community is faced with. 6 RESPONDENTS RESPONDENTS: KALAW TOWNSHIP IN KALAW TOWNSHIP, 121 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SURVEYED. BELOW WE PRESENT THE STATISTICAL DATA ABOUT THE SURVEY PARTICIPANTS (GENDER, AGE, ETHNICITY, FAMILY SIZE). GENDER AGE 60 50 40 WOMEN 38%! 30 MEN 20 62% 10 TOWNSHIP KALAW 0 15-25 26-40 41-60 61+ ETHNICITY TAUNG YOO BAMAR PA-OH DANU 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 AVERAGE FAMILY SIZE: 5.5 7 SURVEYS ✜✜v KALAW TOWNSHIP SURVEYS: SURVEYS: GREEN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONSATION THE LIST INCLUDED: LACK OF DRINKING WATER (GRO) HAS COME UP WITH A • ILLEGAL MINING COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF • PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT THE • POLLUTION FROM MINES LOCAL COMMUNITY • POOR QUALITY OF EDUCATION SURVEYS HAVE BEEN • CORRUPTION DISTRIBUTED AMONGST 121 • DEFORESTATION MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL • LACK OF CIVIC AWARENESS KALAW TOWNSHIP COMMUNITIES IN KALAW AND • POOR TRANSPORTATION YWAR NGAN TOWNSHIPS • DECREASING PRICES OF FARMING PRODUCTS THE RESPONDENTS HAD TO • DISUNITED COMMUNITY LACK OF JOB PROSPECTS IDENTIFY, WHICH OF THE • • POOR QUALITY OF HEALTH PROBLEMS LISTED, AFFECT SERIVCES THEIR COMMUNITY THE • ALCOHOLISM MOST. 8 PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IDENTIFIED:KALAW PROBLEMS TOWNSHIP KALAW TOWNSHIP # ENVIRONMENTAL DEPRIVATION LACK OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND POLLUTION FROM THE MINES (area : Ywar Haung, symbol 4 on the map ) In Ywar Haung, 100 % of respondents have identified the lack of access to drinking water as the biggest problem for their community. According to the information provided by the members of the local civil society, in Baw Sai area there is no clean source of water. Around 25 villages located in the area supply their water from a mixture of rainwater and water from small ponds situated in every village. Since there is no electricity and no plumbing system, the water is supplied by buckets. It becomes especially problematic in the hot season. In 2010, when the region was heavily affected by drought, water had to be delivered from Heho, (a distance of 19 miles).