Lin concedes that there has been positive
development. “Yes, economic growth is there and many
have started to label Myanmar as the new economic
miracle of Asia,” he says. “But the truth is that the
bonanza is only benefitting a few. And it’s easy to
understand why: Even if they stepped down, most of
the land still belongs to the ex-military who ruled the
country, and their families. They pocket huge amounts
of the investment flowing into Myanmar. Regular
citizens just see prices soaring. Rental prices for
apartments, for example, are now ridiculously high.
The gap between the rich and the poor is widening.”“Rental prices for apartments,
for example, are now ridiculously
high. The gap between the rich
and the poor is widening”
Zin Mar Lin, Brave New Burma Federationleft Displaced Kachin
people at Laiza’s rudimentary
hospitalabove A portrait of extremist
Buddhist monk Ashin
Wirathu at a monastery
in MandalayIMAGES © MIGUEL CANDELA