Kachin church groups continue drug eradication campaign

 A Church's anti-drug poster with Kachin language on Ledo Road in Hugawng Valley in western Kachin state

Across Kachin state local drug eradication committees backed by church groups are continuing their drug elimination efforts amidst what many Kachin say is a full blown crisis in their state.

On November 11th at Man Wing Gyi village in Bhamo district, campaigners distributed pamphlets and set up posters along the roadside.

Baptist Pastor Lahpai Zau Lat, who is in charge of the Man Wing Gyi drug eradication committee, told the Kachin News Group that their campaign began November 9th and included nearby villages.

“We are trying to inform the public and want more people to participate in this campaign because they need to know right now that drugs have become the main enemy of the Kachin people,” Zau Lat said.

The drug eradication campaign involved distributing pamphlets posters and signboards which include quotes from the bible. The anti-drug material is written in Kachin, Shan, Chinese and Burmese.

The campaign activities were held in 13 places in Man Wing Gyi village and 34 places in the village vicinity according to committee organizers. Committee organizers have a list of more than 200 alleged drug dealers. Drug users will receive a “first warning” to compel them stop doing drugs. If they refuse this they will face strict punishment, according to committee members who did not elaborate on what this punishment would be.

Located in eastern Kachin state near the Chinese border Man Wing Gyi had a pre-war population of over twelve thousand. Since coming to came to the area last year the village's population has been swelled considerably by an influx of refugees from nearby villages.