lar landscapes as well as similar social city is being forgotten and that the and religious issues to other areas of authorities favoured Kanbalu. LETTERS FROM THE FIELD Sagaing. Finally, the eastern part of Sagaing, north of Kanbalu, belongs Because of the unique status of Sagaing Region to another geographic and social the Naga Self Administered Zone area, with landscapes similar to south (SAZ), the Research Team decided region. The leader of the eponymous Kachin. The section has specific so- to exclude three townships within kingdom, Alaungpaya also founded cial issues such as drug addiction and the zone from this Sagaing research Kounbaung dynasty, the last ruling drug trafficking. However, commonly project. These townships are: Leshu, lineage prior to British colonial rule. shared features amongst all Sagaing Lahe and Nanyun and they all border With the restored palace of Alaung- Townships include illegal logging and India. However, in Hkamti Township paya and several ancient monaster- mineral extraction industries that se- and Homalin Township, CDNH re- ies, Shwebo holds great potential for verely endanger the Region’s ecosys- searchers met and interviewed several tourism. Moreover, Katha, a Sagaing tem as well as the Sagaing residents’ Naga representatives, preparing the city close to Kachin State and Man- quality of life. ground for more specific CDNH re- dalay Region, was the station post of search on the Naga SAZ. the British novelist George Orwell, Furthermore, due to its history, Reports analysing the data collected who was said to have written the well- Kyunhla serves as a very interesting and providing key elements of under- known Burmese Days there between place to run surveys and to conduct standing on Sagaing Region will be 1926 and 1927. interviews. In 1996, the city and its inhabitants were relocated further published by mid-August 2016 and Sagaing Region’s diversity leads to the south to accommodate the construc- shared with relevant stakeholders. For more information and to keep posted For 45 days, CDNH’s research- on Citizen’s Voices in Myanmar Tran- multiplication of questions for the tion of a dam. Forced labour as well on our reports, please subscribe to ers travelled extensively in Sagaing sition (hereafter ‘Political Process’ re- research team. The interviews con- as poor compensation have been re- CDNH Research Team Updates re- Region, collecting a total of 2,836 search). ducted with school teachers, political ported. In addition, city inhabitants questionnaires to examine Social leaders, Civil Society Organization ac- harbour a strong resentment against [email protected]. Harmony and 2,838 questionnaires Following Shan State, Sagaing is the tivists as well as with religious leaders the neighoring city, Kanbalu. They The CDNH Research Team. to explore the Political Process. The second largest administrative entity and general Sagaing residents allowed feel that the development of their research team surveyed 16 townships of Myanmar. With a population of CDNH to gain a clearer understand- 800 from Hkamti to Kale, Monywa to approximately 5.3 million inhabitants ing on a myriad of issues. These in- 755

Sagaing, and Sagaing to Banmauk, (2014 Census data), it is also one of clude ethnic tensions, religious ten- 700 669 capturing Sagaing Region’s diversity. the most densely populated areas of sions and political issues such as land 587 In addition, they conducted 73 in- the nation. In total, 34 townships, grabbing and the lack of rule of law. 600 525 depth interviews with residents to from the north of the country to 500 469 further explain regional events and Mandalay, form the region. It borders As part of the findings, the research 460 bring analyses to life. the Indian States of Nagaland, As- team noted a clear difference between 400 sam and Arunachal Pradesh. Within three areas of Sagaing: From Kale to 300 283 261 261 On April 30th, our team began field Myanmar, the Region shares its bor- Hkamti, the townships are ethnically 241 216 225 209 210 203 research in Sagaing Region. The ini- der with Chin State, Magway Region, diverse with a number of Taing-Yin- 200

116 tiative is part of a wider CDNH re- Mandalay Region and Kachin State. Tha groups present and coexisting 100 search program that aims to provide on varying levels. Mountainous ter- 100 data and analysis of the state of So- Shwebo, the former capital of rain defines the geography of the 0 cial Harmony in Myanmar (hereafter Alaungpaya Kingdom, stands out as region. However, there is a dry zone ‘Social Harmony’ research) as well as one of the most historic cities in the from Monywa to Kanbalu, with simi-