“To Conserve the Environment is Myanmar’s Tradition”

Accidentally, I read the article written by Michael Casey AP on the internet the other day. The summary of the article is that there occur illegal sales of timber logs along Myanmar-China border; 95% of total Myanmar timber exports, which value US $ 250 million a year, sold to China is illegal; there have been sales of animal products such as tiger and leopard skins, bear paws, elephant tusks, and live turtles and they face dangers of extinctions. Moreover, it is said that Myanmar environment laws are only in the books and they have not been used practically.

Then, he mentions that gold and gems mining in Kachin State leads to water pollution in the surrounding rivers; electricity production by dam construction is aimed at distributing electricity to China and Thailand and thereby enforcing thousands of villagers nearby to work. Next, he says that it makes the villagers move away from the place and disturb the fishing business while constructing dam on the bank of Ayeyarwaddy River.

Actually, all these are written unilaterally and extremely. When we look at Myanmar environment policy, we can notice that it is untrue. Myanmar environment policy is “to maintain harmony and balance between people, culture, environment and natural resources.” Myanmar is a natural-resource rich country and the State has been prescribing environment policies and laws to ensure the everlasting of those resources accordingly. Among them, it includes implementing “the nine districts greenery projects” in the dry zone; maintaining the forest resources systematically, nurturing the forest plantations, conserving the natural resources and animals, and maintaining the natural wildlife place and ever-green forests with might and main. As a result, one can see endless lush and green forests in the plain areas and dig water for household use anytime.

Especially, the State has been taking actions strictly on illegal timber loggings and protecting rare species along the border areas. In doing so, it has been signing Memorandum of Understanding with neighbouring countries and wiping out unfair practices cooperatively. In addition, the Border Trade Department under the Ministry of Commerce has been keeping an eye on issuing export licenses for border trade and undertaking supervision activities at Muse 105 Miles trade zone and Kyukote-Pansaing Gates in cooperation with other ministries for the sake of eliminating illegal exports to neighbouring countries. Next, it reveals that gold and gems mining in Kachin State cause river pollution nearby. It is also untrue as the State has been always checking the environment thoroughly with the skillful geologists beforehand whenever it plans to implement a construction project somewhere. Moreover, it prohibits the businessmen officially from deteriorating the natural environment.

Then, the fact that, the construction of dams along the China and Thailand Borders with the aim to distributing electricity to those countries, is also proved to be untrue as it is aimed only for the welfare of local people. In this case, the villagers participate in the project willingly according to the saying “the Government and People help and cooperate with each other,” and it highlights the fact that, the State enforced the villagers in doing so, is untrue. Finally, the facts that, the construction of dam on the bank of Ayeyarwaddy make the villagers nearby move away and disturb the fishing business, are also untrue. This is because the State reallocates the villagers who have been moved away for the construction after the project. Next, the construction of dam will disturb the fishing business in the designated place partly, however, according to the saying, “The Goods and the Bads always go hand in hand”, it can bring about the prosperity of the agriculture business, on the other hand, and it also paves the way for the booming of the fishing business in other places along the River. In conclusion, the practical evidences expose the truth that the expressions of Michael are untrue and I would like to say that “To Conserve the Environment is Myanmar’s Tradition.”