The Akha people are part of the Tibeto-Burman ethnic group living near the borders of five countries: China - Laos - Burma     - Thailand and Vietnam. The 5 photos here and on the previous page, and the 2 following show Burman Akha from the region of Kengtung near the Chinese border. The Akha live in houses made of teak and bamboo and grow rice, cane sugar, corn and soya. They breed chickens and pigs. They are also hunters and opium smokers. As animists they believe in the power of the spirits over every aspect of life. They come under attack from the authorities who are interested in their lands rich in tree species, and from Christian missionaries, and are accused of slash-and-burn farming and thus of destroying the ecosystem. Acculturation, crime, prostitution and drugs threaten their very survival.