Kantarawaddy Times
Land rights organizations say an effective mechanism must be established as soon as possible to address land-related issues in Karenni State.
At present, land sales are increasing in Karenni State, and the resulting land issues are being handled through customary practices and by local administrative bodies. However, these approaches are still insufficient, according to Saw Eh Say, Coordinator of the Kayah EarthRights Action Network (KEAN).
“In the past, land was owned mainly by local communities. But now, ownership has become mixed. So, the question is how to manage it. This is also a major challenge. When we look at land recognition, we must acknowledge the rights of local people, but we also cannot ignore the rights of those who have recently purchased land. This is something that must be managed in the future Karenni State. Even now, these issues are continuing, and buying and selling of land is still taking place,” Saw Eh Say said.
Since the military coup, land sales in Karenni State have become more widespread due to the socio-economic needs of local people. As a result, disputes between ancestral landholders and new landowners have re-emerged. This situation highlights the urgent need for a strong mechanism that can effectively resolve land issues, according to Saw Eh Say.
Furthermore, as local people are selling land inherited from their ancestors, internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are temporarily staying on that land are also forced to move again. Land rights activists raised these concerns at a book launch and press conference held by KEAN on January 14, titled “Approaches to Protect and Promote the Land and Natural Resource Rights of Karenni Indigenous People.”
Although land transactions are increasing in Karenni State, buyers include not only local residents but also people from outside the area. This mixing of ownership between ethnic communities and outsiders could lead to more problems in the future, Saw Eh Say warned.
“We urge people not to sell their land, and we also conduct awareness-raising activities. Most importantly, we encourage people not to engage in land sales before this revolution is finished. It is important to hold on to your land. If sales continue, land will mostly pass into outsiders’ hands. Right now, many lands that used to belong to individual villages or village tracts are becoming collectively or externally owned. If more land is sold, I believe that those who can afford it will keep buying more. Over time, our land will continue to decrease,” he said.
At the end of 2025, there was also a land ownership dispute between local ethnic residents, and one person was killed after weapons were used in the conflict.
Land rights activists observe that land disputes existed even before the coup. Therefore, resolving land issues during this transitional period of overlapping land transactions and in the future reconstruction of Karenni State will be a major challenge.
