MIDCOURSE MANOEUVRES: Community strategies and remedies for natural resource conflicts in Myanmar Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and Namati June 2018 Author(s): Meenakshi Kapoor, Nwe Ni Soe and Vidya Viswanathan Citation: Kapoor, M., Soe, N. N., & Viswanathan, V. (2018). Midcourse Manoeuvres: Community strategies and remedies for natural resource conflicts in Myanmar. New Delhi. Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and Namati. About Centre for Policy Research (CPR) This work has been carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development The Centre for Policy Research (CPR) has been one of India's leading public policy think tanks Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada since 1973. The Centre is a nonprofit, independent institution dedicated to conducting research Editing and Proofreading: Asmita Chaudhuri that contributes to a more robust public discourse about the structures and processes that shape life in India. Photograph Credits: Abigail Moy, Meenakshi Kapoor, and Namati-Myanmar Team www.cprindia.org Contact Information: Centre for Policy Research Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri About Namati New Delhi-110021 In a world where billions live outside the protection of the law, Namati is dedicated to putting the law in people's hands. It is building a global movement of grassroots legal advocates Design and Layout: Printforce who work with communities to advance justice. These advocates are fighting on the front Disclaimer: There is no copyright on this publication. You are free to share, translate, and lines to ensure that people can protect their land, access essential services, and take part in distribute this material. We request that the source be acknowledged and a copy/link of your the decisions that govern their lives. reprint, report, or translation be sent to the CPR-Namati Environmental Justice Program. www.namati.org MIDCOURSE MANOEUVRES: Community strategies and remedies for natural resource conflicts in Myanmar Contents Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 2. Land Governance in Myanmar ................................................................................................................................................... 9 3. Land Use Change and Impacts ................................................................................................................................................20 4. Impacts of Land Use Change ...................................................................................................................................................27 5. Land Conflicts .................................................................................................................................................................................33 6. Strategies for Seeking Remedies ...........................................................................................................................................36 7. Outcomes and Remedies ...........................................................................................................................................................44 8. Conclusion........................................................................................................................................................................................50 References .......................................................................................................................................................................................52 Case Study I: Coal casts a dark shadow over Tigyit ........................................................................................................61 Case Study II: It’s not water under the bridge for Paunglaung ...................................................................................70 Case Study III: Poison no more: Kankone confronts the toxic Moe Gyo sulphuric acid factory in Salingyi ................................................................................................................................................................78 Case Study IV: Myaung Pyo resists water woes ...............................................................................................................87 Case Study V: Thilawa residents brace for upcoming land transformation ............................................................96 Annexure I: Questionnaire administered to collect data for the case studies ......................................................107 Annexure II: Administrative land categories in use in Myanmar ..............................................................................109 Acknowledgments The study was made possible by support from the International Development Research Center (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada. We are grateful to the following people, who helped with the project design, data collection, and field work for this study: Manju Menon and Kanchi Kohli from CPR, Tim Millar, Ye Yint, and Laura Goodwin from Namati; Goon Nan; Gino Cocchiaro from Natural Justice; Min Zar Ni from Myanmar Extractive Industry and Transparency Initiative; Vicky Baumann from Myanmar Center for Responsible Business; Aye Mon Thu and other members of Dawei Probono Lawyers’ Network; SiuSue Mark; Mie Mie Soe, and Sodoh from Tanintharyi Friends; members of Paung Ku, KESAN, and MATA networks; Win Myo Thu, Director of EcoDev; and Tin Aung Ko from Scholars’ Institute. A special word of thanks is also due to all the community members who agreed to be interviewed for the study. – Meenakshi, Nwe, and Vidya 2 Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank ETTF European Timber Trade Federation AFFM Agriculture Farmers’ Federation of FAB Farm Administration Body Myanmar FAO Food and Agriculture Organization ALRC Asian Legal Resource Center of the United Nations ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations FD Forest Department BANCA Biodiversity and Nature Conservation FDI Foreign Direct Investment Association FLI Forest Legality Initiative BEWG Burma Environment Working Group FRPL Farmers’ Rights Protection Law BRN Burma Rivers Network FUG Forest User Group BSPP Burma Socialist Programme Party GAD General Administration Department CBO Community based organisations GDP Gross Domestic Product CCVFV Central Committee for the Management GIC Global Innovation Consulting of Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands GPI Green Peasant Institute CD-OGM Community-Driven Opertaional Ha Hectares Grievance Mechanism ICJ International Commission of Jurists CHMC China National Heavy Machinery Corporation IEE Initial Environmental Examination CSO Civil Society Organisation JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency CSR Corporate Social Responsibility JTDL Japan Thilawa Development Limited CTUM Confederation of Trade Unions- KAN Kyoju Action Network Myanmar KCSN Karenni Civil Society Network DAO Development Affairs Office KESAN Karen Environment and Social Action DFO District Forest Officer Network DICA Directorate of Investment and KIO Kachin Independence Organisation Company Administration Km Kilometre DICA Directorate of Investment and KNGY Karen New Generation Youth Company Administration KNU Karen National Union DPLN Dawei Probono Lawyer Network LIOH Land in Our Hands ECC Environment Compliance Certificate LUC Land Use Certificate ECD Environment Conservation Department MATA Myanmar Alliance for Transparency ECDF Ethnic Community Development Forum and Accountability EIA Environment Impact Assessment MCRB Myanmar Centre for Responsible EITI Extractives Industries Transparency Business Initiative ME2 Mining Enterprise 2 EMP Environment Management Plan MEC Myanmar Economic Corporation ERI Earth Rights International MEPP Myanmar Energy Master Plan 3 MJC Myanmar-Japan Consortium for NLD National League for Democracy Thilawa Special Economic Zone NLUP National Land Use Policy Development Project Norinco China North Industries Corporation MJTDL Myanmar Japan Thilawa Development Limited NREC Natural Resources and Environment Conservation MMG Mine Monitoring Group NTFP Non-timber forest product MMID Mandalay Myotha Industrial Development OECD Organisation for Economic MMK Myanmar Kyat Co-operation and Development MNPC Myanmar National Prosperity PA Protected Areas system Company Limited PHR Physicians for Human Rights MoALI Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation PNO Pa-Oh National Organisation MoECF Ministry of Environmental PYO Pa-Oh Youth Organisation Conservation and Forestry SIA Social Impact Assessment MoEE Ministry of Electricity and Energy SLORC State Law and Order Restoratio MoHA Ministry of Home Affairs Council MoI Ministry of Information SLRD Settlement and Land Records Department MoNPED Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development TSDG Thilawa Social Development Group MoNREC Ministry of Natural Resources and TSEZMC Thilawa SEZ Management Committee Environmental Conservation UF Unclassified Forest MoPO Ministry of President’s Office UMEHL Union of Myanmar Economic MP Members of Parliament Holdings Ltd MPC Myanmar Pongpipat Company Limited UN-HABITAT