Myanmar: Measles outbreak affects indigenous peoples in Naga area

According to Myanmar Times' reporting yesterday: “children under five years old have constituted a majority of the outbreak’s victims”. At the same time, a non-profit media organization (DVB) reported that “activists say that since June the delivery of aid from the regional government and health department has not been quick enough”.

Just two weeks ago in a press conference, the General Secretary of the Naga National Affairs Council Naw Aung San, highlighted the lack of support in the Naga area: 'Our question to the government is: Are there any health workers or doctors assigned full-time to monitor and control the disease?’ From what we see, the answer would be no'.

As reported by Naga activists and IWGIA’s partner organization in Myanmar Shanah, one of the challenges of fast aid delivery is the fact that the villages are isolated and in mountainous areas.

“There are no roads for cars, so it takes about two or three days to reach [an outlying] village,” Naw Aung San told DVB, adding that community-based responders are doing their best, and often deliver food and supplies via motorbike. The activists also pointed out that “the regional government could not form an emergency response committee or mechanism until today due to lack of resources”, referring to the situation two weeks ago. 'Meanwhile the government claims to have the situation under control, our people keep on dying' said Director of Shanah, Ke Jung.

Together with Shanah, IWGIA is currently implementing a project to support the Naga peoples formulate a Naga Land Use Policy. This tool will be used in advocacy efforts to secure the right to their land and land use. Due to the emergency situation in the area, the project is now on hold and the organization’s resources are solely directed to relief work. The young staff at Shanah are doing their best to support the affected communities and have set up an Emergency Response Facebook Page for help and donations. They also report that no news stories in English are reaching broader audiences outside Myanmar.
 

About Naga peoples

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Approximately 4 million in population and comprising more than 45 different tribes, the Nagas are considered transnational indigenous people inhabiting parts of North East India and North West Myanmar. The Nagas were divided between the two countries with the colonial transfer of power from Great Britain to India in 1947. They refered to their homeland as “Nagalim”, which they see as transcending the present state boundaries, and is an expression of their assertion of their political identity and aspirations as a nation. 

Stuggle for Self-determination
The Naga people’s struggle for the right to self-determination dates back to the colonial transfer of power from Great Britain to India. Armed conflict between the Indian state and the Nagas’ armed opposition forces began in the early 1950s and it is one of the longest armed struggles in Asia. A violent history has marred the Naga areas since the beginning of the 20th century, and undemocratic laws and regulations have governed the Nagas for more than half a century. 

Most recent processes
NSCN-K and government of Myanmar have entered into formal cease-fire in April 2012. This year, a framework peace agreement was signed between the armed Naga groups and the Indian government.