“The Farmer Becomes the Criminal”

View of Hpa-an, capital of Karen state, on the bank of the Salween River.
View of Hpa-an, capital of Karen state, on the bank of the Salween River.  © 2015 Patrick Brown
Toll booths operated by militias on a new road financed by Thailand from Kawkareik to the border town of Myawaddy in Burma. Armed men at the tolls lack military insignia or other distinguishing marks on their uniforms, and charge 1000 to 2000 Burmese kyat
Toll booths operated by militias on a new road financed by Thailand from Kawkareik to the border town of Myawaddy in Burma. Armed men at the tolls lack military insignia or other distinguishing marks on their uniforms, and charge 1000 to 2000 Burmese kyat for each car to pass.  © 2015 Patrick Brown
Front gate of the UMH Industrial Park in the Hpa-an Special Industrial Zone, located north of the city of Hpa-an. Since the zone opened in 2011, the value of land located around the industrial zone has tripled in value.
Front gate of the UMH Industrial Park in the Hpa-an Special Industrial Zone, located north of the city of Hpa-an. Since the zone opened in 2011, the value of land located around the industrial zone has tripled in value. © 2015 Patrick Brown
Children and adults making and stacking bricks on the construction site of the UMH Industrial Park special economic zone, north of the city of Hpa-an. Sand dug from the Salween River is used in the manufacture of the bricks.
Children and adults making and stacking bricks on the construction site of the UMH Industrial Park special economic zone, north of the city of Hpa-an. Sand dug from the Salween River is used in the manufacture of the bricks.  © 2015 Patrick Brown
Local men digging sand from the Salween River bed to be used in constructing the UMH Industrial Park Special Economic Zone.
Local men digging sand from the Salween River bed to be used in constructing the UMH Industrial Park Special Economic Zone.  © 2015 Patrick Brown
Two villagers in New Ahtet Kawin in front of their homes.
Two villagers in New Ahtet Kawin in front of their homes. Hpa-an police burned down their village in August 2015, and forcibly evicted these women and other residents. A total of 27 villagers refused to leave and prosecutors charged them with criminal trespass; all 27 were convicted and sentenced to prison for terms ranging from two to six months. © 2015 Patrick Brown
So Khai, sitting on the edge of thatched roof platform structure that he and other villagers built to serve as a school for children in Ahtet Kawyin village in Karen State. Villagers there have been regularly displaced by fighting in the area.
So Khai, sitting on the edge of thatched roof platform structure that he and other villagers built to serve as a school for children in Ahtet Kawyin village in Karen State. Villagers there have been regularly displaced by fighting in the area. © 2015 Patrick Brown
Aung Thay, who is protesting the Burmese government’s decision to seize his and others’ land near the Ye Bo dam, constructed in 2006. The government still has not provided financial or other compensation to him or his fellow villagers.
Aung Thay, who is protesting the Burmese government’s decision to seize his and others’ land near the Ye Bo dam, constructed in 2006. The government still has not provided financial or other compensation to him or his fellow villagers. © 2015 Patrick Brown
Zwekabin Hotel, located in Hpa-an, was built on land confiscated from villagers. Villagers say that they were not properly compensated for the land, and only offered a small “donation” by the company for their difficulties, which they refused.
Zwekabin Hotel, located in Hpa-an, was built on land confiscated from villagers. Villagers say that they were not properly compensated for the land, and only offered a small “donation” by the company for their difficulties, which they refused.  © 2015 Patrick Brown
A man walks through a polluted river that flows through a village overshadowed by a cement factory owned by the Burmese military-controlled Myanmar Economic Corporation in the Hpa-an region of Karen State.
A man walks through a polluted river that flows through a village overshadowed by a cement factory owned by the Burmese military-controlled Myanmar Economic Corporation in the Hpa-an region of Karen State. Approximately 10 mining operations for limestone, used in cement, are already underway in Karen State and another four exploration licenses have been granted. © 2015 Patrick Brown
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