Chinese nationals conduct land survey for Kyauk Phyu-Kunming railway track

 A group of Chinese nationals recently conducted the land survey in Rakhine State for the Kyauk Phyu-Mandalay section of the railway project that would connect Kunming city of China’s Yunnan province.

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.