| Namhkam ၼမ်ႉၶမ်း |
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Namhkam
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Burma |
| Division | Shan State |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Ethnicities | Shan, Palaung |
| • Religions | Buddhism |
| Time zone | MST (UTC+6.30) |
Namhkam (Shan: ၼမ်ႉၶမ်း), also spelt Namkham, is the principal town of Nanhkan Township in northern Shan State, Burma, situated on the southern bank of Shweli River near the border with Yunnan Province, China.
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The region belonged to China but the British colonial administration built a road in 1894-1897 between this frontier town and Bhamo by the Ayeyarwady River in Kachin State, a distance of 56 miles, for Chinese muleteers in order to benefit from the border trade.[1] The town was rented to the British in 1897 by Qing Dynasty. The area became formally part of Burma in 1960 when China and Burma signed a border treaty, swapping some border land.
During the Second World War the Allies built the Ledo Road from Ledo in Assam, India to Kunming, China across northern Burma, and by the end of 1944, completed 439 miles to Namhkam, linking up with the old Burma Road at Bhamo.[2][3] Dr Gordon Seagrave of the Burma Surgeon fame ran the US missionary hospital overlooking Namhkam.[3][4] He was believed to have had intelligence duties as well as medical.[4] He wrote some articles on his experience in NamHkam.[5]
There are 1 high school, 2 middle schools and 5 primary schools in 2005.[6]
Cultivation of the opium poppy in the area in British times had caused considerable deforestation noted in 1920 east of a line from Lashio to Namhkam.[7] A 2005 survey carried out by the Shan State Peace Council recorded 1,800 drug addicts in Namhkam alone, and community-run rehabilitation centers were set up to tackle the rising problem of addiction. The first of these started in 1998 were declared illegal and forced to close in 2000 by the authorities.[8]Buddhist monks and teachers are also involved in the amelioration of the HIV/AIDS problem among drug users.[9]
Hsinshweli high yield hybrid rice cultivation has been promoted in recent years by the authorities in the region.[10]
Burma and China signed a contract in August 2003 for a hydel power project. A dam is under construction on the Shweli River near Namhkam aiming to supply electricity to Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Lashio and Namtu.[11] The project known as Shweli 1 will supply 600 MW when completed.[12]
In 2005, an attempt by the Shan State Army-South based near the Thai border to fill the vacuum left by the 1989 cease-fire agreement between their counterparts in the north and the Burmese military was thwarted.[13][14]