Shan State Research Articles

Two new species of Austrelatus diving beetles from continental Southeast Asia, linking the distribution area of the genus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae)

Two new species of predominantly Australasian genus Austrelatus Shaverdo et al., 2023 are described and illustrated: Austrelatus mirai sp. nov. from Selangor State in Peninsular Malaysia is similar in habitus to the South Indian species A. boukali (Hendrich & Balke, 1998) and A. davidi (Wewalka, 2017); however, the shape of the male genitalia suggests that it is closely related to Austrelatus species from Kalimantan. Austrelatus riberai sp. nov. from Shan State in Myanmar is most similar to Sino-Japanese A. parallelus (Zimmermann, 1920). Findings of Austrelatus species in continental Southeast Asia fill the gap in the distribution area of the genus between India, China and Japan on one side, and the Sunda Islands on the other side.

Optionality and paradigmaticity

Abstract Zooming in from the grand-scale descriptions of the Mainland Southeast Asian convergence area, this paper focuses on Htanaw, an Austroasiatic language in Myanmar’s Shan State. Close contact with Burmese/Intha, Pa’O, and Shan led to a restructuring of Htanaw, exemplified here by the verb phrase, which exhibits an intriguing mixture of (isolating) Austroasiatic and (morphologically complex) Tibeto-Burman features. The Htanaw VP is internally complex with optional bound morphemes expressing grammatical and semantic categories. Based on original fieldwork data and available published material, this study presents the dynamics of the Htanaw verb phrase patterns and puts them in an areal typological perspective.

Contributions on a small collection of the former Subulinidae Fischer & Crosse, 1877 (Eupulmonata, Achatinoidea) with catalogue of the Glessula and Rishetia species recorded from Myanmar.

The taxonomy of subulinid snails in Myanmar has been evaluated, resulting in the recognition of 40 species and subspecies across nine genera: Allopeas, Bacillum, Curvella, Glessula, Opeas, Paropeas, Rishetia, Tortaxis, and Zootecus. Nine species are re-described based on recently collected specimens, and two new species, Glessulamandalayensis Man & Panha, sp. nov. from Mandalay Region and Tortaxiscylindropsis Man & Panha, sp. nov. from Shan State are introduced. The genitalia and radula of Zootecuspullus was studied for the first time. This study also presents a comprehensive list of all subulinid species recorded to date from Myanmar. The type specimens and authenticated museum specimens have been illustrated with accompanying taxonomic remarks and nine species formerly assigned in Glessula are now placed in Rishetia: R.akouktoungensis, R.baculina, R.basseinensis, R.burrailensismaxwelli, R.kentungensis, R.limborgi, R.nathiana, R.pertenuis, and R.pertenuismajor.

New records of flowering plants for the flora of Myanmar collected from Southern Shan State II

A three-year collaborative plant survey among researchers from Korean and Myanmar in the vicinity of the Panlaung-Pyadalin Cave Wildlife Sanctuary (PPCWS) in the southern Shan State of Myanmar led to the addition of four newly recorded flowering plant taxa for the country’s flora. Some of the notable species are Aeschynanthus minutifolius (Gesneriaceae), which was previously known to be distributed only in Thailand, and Trailliaedoxa gracilis (Rubiaceae), the only species in its genus, known only to occur in China narrowly. These additional findings are expected to augment our understanding of the plant diversity in Myanmar and can be instrumental in advancing botanical knowledge in general in the region.

Interethnic dynamics and ethnic identification process an example from the Southern Shan State, Burma (Myanmar)

ABSTRACT The essay addresses the issue of which cultural tools are used in order to index particular ethnic identifications within an interethnic environment. It is analysed how the Inle Lake region has undergone a symbolic restructuring of its socio-cultural network since the end of the 1950s. We shall first address the issue of how the interethnic dynamics was renegotiated after the waning of the Shan political sway upon the region and how the Intha emerged as the new dominant ethnic group as well as how they symbolically manipulated a socio-cultural landscape common to all the ethnic communities inhabiting the region; it will eventually be analysed how a particular ethnic community, the Taung’yo, indexes its position within a newly created dynamics through the technical choice of phonetic markers in a specific context of interaction in order to align with the position within the interethnic dynamics that the oral traditions grant them.

Prevalence and social determinants of depression: A cross-sectional survey of Myanmar migrant workers in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand

ABSTRACT Background: Depression is a common mental disorder and the sixth leading cause of disability in Thailand. Chiang Mai has historically been a city of attraction for labour migration for Shan migrants from the adjacent Southern Shan State of Myanmar. Currently, only infectious diseases are screened during the pre-employment period. Prevention and early detection of noncommunicable diseases can improve a healthy workforce and reduce the healthcare burden on the host country. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done among Myanmar migrant adults legally working in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Results: The final analysis included 360 participants and the prevalence of depression was 14.4%. Being female, duration of stay in Thailand of more than 10 years, co-residence with co-workers, and marginalisation pattern of acculturation were significant associated factors affecting depression in a multivariate regression analysis model. Conclusion: Although the culture and dialect were not different between the host and country of origin, Myanmar migrant workers of Shan ethnicity suffered from depression. Our findings highlighted the importance of social determinants beyond common predictors of depression among migrants and the need for public health measures to promote migrants' integration into the host culture.

Breeding of the ‘Critically Endangered’ White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis in the Shan Highlands, Myanmar

Recent studies have shown the importance of Myanmar for the conservation of three ‘Critically Endangered’ vulture populations. From November 2022 to March 2023, we carried out rapid surveys on vulture nests and nesting tree characteristics in Ke Hsi Township, Shan Highlands. We recorded 10 nests of White-rumped Vultures, Gyps bengalensis, on five nesting trees from four different localities. Six nests were active, and six nestlings were observed; four nests were inactive or abandoned. Most of the nests were recorded on Ficus spp. and the mean nest height was 13.6 m (SD ± 4.1) above ground. This represents the first confirmed record of the breeding success of White-rumped Vultures from Shan Highlands and confirms the ongoing presence of the species in Shan States. The population of G. bengalensis in Shan Highlands is small, but the confirmed breeding is significant in the wider context for this species.

Golden Triangle to Bangladesh: Regional Analysis of ATS Sources, Trafficking Routes and Kingpin Involved, and Role of Regional Organizations

Background: Beyond traditional routes to East and Southeast Asia, Excessive ceaseless flow of ATS (yaba/crystal meth) and synthetic drugs in South Asia especially Bangladesh are the new dimension of drugs which have little study of its sources, routes, prices and the kingpin involved to ATS trafficking and production. Security forces have been taking stringent action for the non-conventional security threats including ‘war on drug’. Large information and reasoning gaps are seen which influenced to find the source of ATS, its trafficking routes, its prices and role played in Bangladesh and the region. The research aimed to identify the major sources, trafficking routes of ATS, prices level & economic impact, Kingpin involved and to explore its different regional implications for national and regional level decisions.Methods: A long array of national and international reports, publications etc. reviewed and analyzed. 300 face to face interview survey to drug law enforcement officers, drug dealers and drug consumers with many more qualitative & quantitative interviews.Results: ATS (yaba/crystal meth) problem for Bangladesh and most South Asian countries are intertwined with Golden Triangle drug problems. Potential new drug production & trafficking prone regions such as ‘Black Triangle’ have been becoming sources of ATS for South, East and Southeast Asia. Myanmar non-state ethnic actors, Myanmar military affiliated militias & BGFs, Chinese-Myanmar-India-Bangladesh etc. transnational syndicates involved and per piece of yaba has become as minimum as less than USD $1 dollar.Conclusion: Golden Triangle, especially Myanmar Shan State with expanding trafficking region, anarchic situations and military policies are continue breeding drugs that linked to different routes and actors, changing environment changes sources, routes and actors.

A Thermotolerant Yeast Cyberlindnera rhodanensis DK Isolated from Laphet-so Capable of Extracellular Thermostable β-Glucosidase Production.

This study aims to utilize the microbial resources found within Laphet-so, a traditional fermented tea in Myanmar. A total of 18 isolates of thermotolerant yeasts were obtained from eight samples of Laphet-so collected from southern Shan state, Myanmar. All isolates demonstrated the tannin tolerance, and six isolates were resistant to 5% (w/v) tannin concentration. All 18 isolates were capable of carboxy-methyl cellulose (CMC) degrading, but only the isolate DK showed ethanol production at 45 °C noticed by gas formation. This ethanol producing yeast was identified to be Cyberlindnera rhodanensis based on the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain on rRNA gene. C. rhodanensis DK produced 1.70 ± 0.01 U of thermostable extracellular β-glucosidase when cultured at 37 °C for 24 h using 0.5% (w/v) CMC as a carbon source. The best two carbon sources for extracellular β-glucosidase production were found to be either xylose or xylan, with β-glucosidase activity of 3.07-3.08 U/mL when the yeast was cultivated in the yeast malt extract (YM) broth containing either 1% (w/v) xylose or xylan as a sole carbon source at 37 °C for 48 h. The optimal medium compositions for enzyme production predicted by Plackett-Burman design and central composite design (CCD) was composed of yeast extract 5.83 g/L, peptone 10.81 g/L and xylose 20.20 g/L, resulting in a production of 7.96 U/mL, while the medium composed (g/L) of yeast extract 5.79, peptone 13.68 and xylan 20.16 gave 9.45 ± 0.03 U/mL for 48 h cultivation at 37 °C. Crude β-glucosidase exhibited a remarkable stability of 100%, 88% and 75% stable for 3 h at 35, 45 and 55 °C, respectively.

Contributions of a small collection of terrestrial microsnails (Pupilloidea, Hypselostomatidae) from Myanmar with description of three new species.

Land snails were collected for the project 'Conserving Myanmar's Karst Biodiversity' from the limestone karsts in Mon, Kayin, and Shan states and in the regions of Tanintharyi and Mandalay between 2015 and 2017, through cooperation with Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and the Forestry Department of Myanmar. Here, we report on a portion of the collection, and list 17 species from seven genera of the Hypselostomatidae microsnails. Three new species from two genera are described as Bensonellataiyaiorum Tongkerd & Panha, sp. nov., B.lophiodera Tongkerd & Panha, sp. nov., and Gyliotrachelaaunglini Tongkerd & Panha, sp. nov. All new species are known only from the type locality in Shan State (Bensonella) and Kayin State (Gyliotrachela). A new combination of Acinolaemusdayanum and three newly recorded species, namely A.cryptidentatus, B.anguloobtusa and G.hungerfordiana are discussed. The low morphological variability of the widely distributed G.hungerfordiana is discussed, and two species are proposed for formal synonymisation. Constituting the first records for Myanmar, five species of Bensonella and two species of Acinolaemus were collected.

Confirmation of Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Myanmar Extends Known Geographic Range of an Endangered Primate

Characterizing genetically distinct populations of primates is important for protecting biodiversity and effectively allocating conservation resources. Skywalker gibbons (Hoolock tianxing) were first described in 2017, with the only confirmed population consisting of 150 individuals in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan Province, China. Based on river geography, the distribution of the skywalker gibbon has been hypothesized to extend into Myanmar between the N’Mai Kha and Ayeyarwaddy Rivers to the west, and the Salween River (named the Thanlwin River in Myanmar and Nujiang River in China) to the east. We conducted acoustic point-count sampling surveys, collected noninvasive samples for molecular mitochondrial cytochrome b gene identification, and took photographs for morphological identification at six sites in Kachin State and three sites in Shan State to determine the presence of skywalker gibbons in predicted suitable forest areas in Myanmar. We also conducted 50 semistructured interviews with members of communities surrounding gibbon range forests to understand potential threats. In Kachin State, we audio-recorded 23 gibbon groups with group densities ranging between 0.57 and 3.6 group/km2. In Shan State, we audio-recorded 21 gibbon groups with group densities ranging between 0.134 and 1.0 group/km2. Based on genetic data obtained from skin and saliva samples, the gibbons were identified as skywalker gibbons (99.54–100% identity). Although these findings increase the species’ known population size and confirmed distribution, skywalker gibbons in Myanmar are threatened by local habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. Most of the skywalker gibbon population in Myanmar exists outside protected areas. Therefore, the IUCN Red List status of the skywalker gibbon should remain as Endangered.

Assessing the Impacts of Dam Construction on the Livelihoods of Swidden Farmers in Pinlaung, Southern Shan State, Myanmar

Assessing the Impacts of Dam Construction on the Livelihoods of Swidden Farmers in Pinlaung, Southern Shan State, Myanmar

Cross-Border Religiosity and the Revival of Theravada Buddhism in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China

ABSTRACT Since the early 1980s, China’s southwestern borderland area of Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province has witnessed an astounding rejuvenation of Theravada Buddhism among the Dai-Lue and Bulang ethnic groups. This has occurred in the larger context of a general revitalisation of religion throughout China and specifically Theravada Buddhist revivalism in the upper-Mekong region. The emigration of the Dai-Lue and Bulang peoples in Xishuangbanna from the 1950s through the 1970s and their reconnection from the 1980s through the 2010s reforged a sense of trans-regional belonging across this area of China, Shan State in Myanmar, and northern Thailand. This sense of belonging re-established religious connections in the borderlands. This article argues that trans-regionalisation in the upper-Mekong region and the revival of Buddhist traditions in Xishuangbanna were the result of a synergistic interaction. Theravada Buddhism was rebuilt through the cooperation between cross-border monks and laypeople. Monks of the Yuan Buddhist tradition facilitated the rebuilding of Buddhism in Xishuangbanna amid the social milieu of religious revivalism in China. Moreover, this article explicitly analyses the indispensable role lay devotees played in rebuilding their Buddhist tradition by working within the local temple-village structures.

Factors predicting the intention of drug abuse avoidance among adolescents in Pinlaung Township, Myanmar: predictive correlational design

BackgroundAdolescence is a critical transition period and is at high risk for drug/substance abuse. In Myanmar, drug use is common among adolescents and is a public health concern. There are no studies of drug abuse prevention among Myanmar adolescents. Intentions to avoid drug abuse can be a protective factor for preventing drug abuse among adolescents. This study investigated the effects of sex, parental history of drug/alcohol abuse, self-efficacy, parental marital status, and family functioning on the intention of drug abuse avoidance among Myanmar adolescents.MethodsThis is a predictive correlational study. The Biopsychosocial model was used as the theoretical framework of this study. A convenient sampling method was used to collect data from 157 students aged 13–18 years in a government school, middle school level and high school level, Pinlaung Town, Southern Shan State, Myanmar during the COVID-19 pandemic and political protests. G* power software was used to calculate the sample size. Data was collected by four self-administered questionnaires: a socio-demographic questionnaire, Thai Family Functioning Scale (TFFS), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), and Intention of Drug Avoidance Scale (IDAS). Multiple linear regression was employed to analyze the data.ResultsFive predictors, including biological sex, parental history without drug/alcohol abuse, self-efficacy, parental marital status, and family functioning, explained 24.4% of the variance in the intention of drug abuse avoidance among Myanmar adolescents (R2 = .244, F (5,151) = 9.738, p = .000). In addition, only three factors, family functioning (β = .31, p < .001), biological sex (β = -.25, p < .01), and self-efficacy (β = .16, p < .05) statistically and significantly predicted the intention of drug abuse avoidance among Myanmar adolescents.ConclusionsFamily functioning, female gender, and self-efficacy predicted the intention of drug abuse avoidance among Myanmar adolescents in Pinlaung Township, Southern Shan State, Myanmar.Implications of this studyThe results of this study have implications for all stakeholders through research, education, practice, and policymaking leading to improve the intentions of drug abuse avoidance among Myanmar adolescents. Furthermore, the results of this study specifically contribute to create psychoeducational intervention programs for increasing intention to avoid substance use by promoting family functioning and self-efficacy of adolescents. This is especially proper for male adolescents who have less intention to avoid substance use.

Playing with Fire: How Engagement with Illicit Economies Shapes the Survival and Resilience of Ethnic Armed Organisations in the China-Myanmar Borderlands

This article examines the relationship between the survival and resilience of ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) and their involvement in the illicit economy in the China-Myanmar borderlands of northern Shan State over time. Drawing on fieldwork conducted from 2018 to 2022 in both the China-Myanmar and Thai-Myanmar borderlands, it employs a spatiotemporal approach to explore the interactions among border openness/closure, transnational flows, EAO’s strategies, and illicit economies, including the Cold War era drug trade, the gambling industry in the early twenty-first century, and the post-Covid-19 online scams industry. The study reveals how EAOs use the border as a resource, adapting their strategies to changing political environments. It argues that these interactions are not linear but rather characterised by reciprocal influences across various historical periods. This historical overview of the interactions between non-state armed groups and illicit economies reveals the complexity of the contested borderland along the Chinese border.

Homeland of Karenic languages

Abstract Comparisons of plant names in Karenic languages reveal that names that can be traced back to Proto-Karen belong to plants that grow in temperate zones, such as bamboo, banyan, and mango. The names for coconut and palmyra palm, which are typical tropical plants, cannot be traced back to Proto-Karen and are borrowings. This suggests that Proto-Karen was spoken in a temperate zone. Meanwhile, the highest diversity of Karenic languages is observed in the area from southern Shan State to Kayah State and northern Karen State in Myanmar. Thus, as per linguistic migration theory, this area may have been the homeland of Karenic languages. Furthermore, the area largely has temperate zones. Hence, we can assume that the homeland of Karenic languages was in this area.

Educational Challenges and Expectancy of Non-governmental Education Leaders in Armed Conflict Areas in Myanmar

Myanmar is a country with long-term internal conflict with many ethnic minority children suffering from the lack of access to quality education. To solve the issue, non-governmental schools have been built in armed conflict areas. However, the schools are dealing with many challenges such as lack of resources or threat to security. At present, there is a knowledge gap in the practices of non-governmental school leaders in tackling the challenges and their expectancy to provide quality education to their students. Therefore, this study explored the educational challenges and expectancy of non-governmental leaders from Kachin State and Shan State in Myanmar through interviews to assist policy makers and other stakeholders in crafting inclusive education in the country. There are three major parts in the findings: challenges, overcoming methods, and the opportunities the leaders are seeking. The findings suggest the urgent need of cooperation between the government and ethnic armed organisations on the education of the children, changes in national curriculum, and teacher education. Due to the sample size of this qualitative study, the findings may not be generalised for all the ethnic groups in Myanmar. However, they can help policy makers and other stakeholders with policies for inclusive education as they reflect the real life experience of those working in education sector in armed conflict areas.

Drug harms amongst youth in Shan State, Myanmar: Community responses and increased vulnerabilities

This article analyses how families and communities in Shan State, Myanmar, have responded to rising youth drug use, and the impacts that these responses have on young people. It first examines the factors that have caused drug production and drug use amongst youth in Shan State to increase over the past three decades and places these phenomena in the context of wider political and economic transformations that have shaped Myanmar's borderlands since the late 1980s. Drug-related harms among Shan youth have overwhelmed family and community coping mechanisms in a context where state responses have been ineffective and inadequate. Consequently, families have resorted to increasingly desperate ways to try to protect young family members from drug use. This article focuses on two responses. First, the decision by rural families to send sons and daughters away to big cities or to neighbouring countries to avoid the local drug environment. Second, the decision to send children experiencing drug harms to treatment centres operated by ethnic armed organisations. Both responses, this article argues, expose young people to new forms of vulnerability. Finally, the article reflects on some of the challenges the drug problem poses for government and communities, and offers suggestions for alternative responses.

A new species of Paraboea (Gesneriaceae: Didymocarpoideae) from Myanmar

The new species Paraboea babae D.J.Middleton from Shan State in Myanmar is described and illustrated.

Strategies to Apply Sufficiency Economy Philosophy to the Way of Life for Youth in The Greater Mekong Sub-region

This research aimed to study the learning state and knowledge about the sufficiency economy philosophy (SEP) of youth in the Greater Mekong Sub-region to create a strategy to sustainable apply the SEP to the way of life of youth in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, create a map for SEP application to the way of life, and produce the public media to extend application results for benefit. The sample group was key informants: 50 youth students from each institute: Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Shan State Community College, Luang Nam Tha Teacher Training College, Luang Phrabang Teacher Training College, Dong Kham Chang Teacher Training College, Dong Kham Chang Accounting and Financial Institute, and Dong Kham Chang Agricultural Technical College, 50 experts and scholars, and 50 administrators or professors. The research tool included a questionnaire about the learning state and knowledge about the sufficiency economy philosophy (SEP) of youth in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, a focus group, and a workshop. The result of the workshop of experts, scholars, and administrators or professors from the three countries to draft the strategies was eight strategies and 25 development guidelines. The map for SEP application to the way of life was also produced, and public media to extend application results for sustainable benefit was initiated.