Kantarawaddy Times
During the deteriorating conditions of the post-coup, where even having money is useless in some of eyes, a group of people from Bawlakhe town, Karenni State, also feel the same way.
“If someone wants beef and the other has rice, he or she won’t sell the rice for money. The rice is only exchanged for beef. That’s how things are now,” said a local man from Bawlakhe, who requested anonymity for security reasons, describing the situation of food scarcity in the town.
Currently, civilians remaining in Bawlakhe live mainly in two neighborhoods, such as the Shan Pine and the Kayah Pine. The state government under the junta provides monthly rations of rice to civilians, and some rice can also be purchased from military camps.
“Rice can only be obtained from the SAC (State Administration Council) and its allies,” another local man said.
The junta-controlled state government distributes six pyi (about 12 kg) of rice per month to individuals living alone, eight pyi (about 16 kg) for families with two members, ten pyi (about 20 kg) for families with three or more members, and seven pyi (about 14 kg) for individual government staff.
Due to ongoing fighting and restricted movement, residents cannot farm or transport goods from outside areas. As a result, rice has become so scarce that people have to barter goods to get it.
“When there’s beef available, the meat mostly goes to the SAC troops because rice comes only from them. In the past, you could trade one viss (1.6 kg) of beef for one pyi (2 kg) of rice,” the man added.
Bawlakhe hosts many strategic junta battalions, including Light Infantry Battalions 429, 430, and 337. The surrounding checkpoints frequently see clashes with revolutionary forces, making the town a constant conflict zone.
Although some people have fled, around 200 civilians still remain in the town. They believe leaving could be even more dangerous, so they stay within restricted areas. They are only allowed to move as far as one or two furlongs out of the outskirt town.
To survive, residents plant sesame seeds near their homes to make cooking oil, go fishing, and grow small seasonal crops. Some raise chickens or cattle, though those who raise pigs are very rare.
“Even people who have chickens don’t dare to eat them. They prioritize trading them for rice. Rice is everything,” said a man who left Bawlakhe town last March due to unbearable hardship.
According to locals, they have been living through this barter system, like trading goods for food, for over a year. However, some junta soldiers sell rice for cash to locals, even though it comes from the army’s own rations.
Whenever helicopters arrive bringing food supplies for the troops, civilians also become hopeful that they might receive some.
Because of continuous fighting, all major roads into Bawlakhe are closed, cutting off trade entirely. Though some goods are sold by the military, residents say they cannot afford them as they have no income left.
