The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Myanmar commissioned the access to justice and informal justice systems research in three locations: Rakhine, Kachin and Shan States, which includes specific attention to informal justice systems.

The research sought to answer three main questions:
1. How do people seek access to justice?
2. What are people’s perceptions of, and trust and confidence in, the formal justice system?
3. What is the range of informal justice processes that exist in the local area, and how do they operate?

This report summarises the findings in Kachin State. It is important to note that
the findings are indicative rather than representative, because of the sampling methodology, and cannot be generalised to any wider population.

The title “Salt Between Split Beans” describes how powerless someone feels when thrown into bad circumstances created because of a clash between others and which can only improve if the other parties resolve the conflict between themselves. The Kachin report details the negative impact the armed conflict between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army has on people’s lives in the State, including their access to justice.