The coercive orders come from members of the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) headed by U Laito, chairman. The money was allegedly extorted from villagers who pull horses to ferry rice they buy from Thantlang town, said a villager.

Most villagers travel on horses to Thantlang where availability of rice is easier than other areas in the region.  The scarcity of rice is said to have been caused by the flowering of bamboo in Thantlang township areas since May this year.

“They demand money while we starve. We also paid Kyat 10,000 (US $ 8) for giving a horse on rent. It is compulsory,” said a villager in Thantlang.

The price of rice ranges between Kyat 16,500 to 17,000 for a bag of 50 kilograms. Those who do not own a horse have to hire it from others.

The misdeeds of U Laito and his colleagues have sparked off anger among villagers.

The monsoon has also contributed, making transportation and communication in Chin state to deteriorate. People are facing trouble traveling in case of an emergency.

Flowering of bamboo lures rats which damage paddy in the farms. Rats which begin to multiply rapidly after consuming bamboo flowers also eat up paddy, which are stocked. As a result, villagers are facing a shortage of rice in Chin state.

Bamboo flowers bloom once in 50 years, leading to multiplication of rats which eat the paddy causing famine. The phenomena is true for Mizoram state as well which borders Chin State In Burma. – KNG.