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Illegal gold mine operations have run unchecked in the capital of Myanmar\u2019s Kachin state since the military seized power 10 months ago, raising concerns for villagers who spent years protesting a massive Chinese-backed dam project in the early 2000s.<\/P>
Local sources along the Irrawaddy River in Kachin recently told RFA\u2019s Myanmar Service that illegal gold mining operations began in earnest only weeks after the military\u2019s Feb. 1 coup. They said they fear the unregulated activities could damage the waterway and the surrounding environment.<\/P>
A resident who gave her name as Laura said that a gold mining operation in Myitsone is situated at a riverbend where the current is extremely strong. She said the mining impacts the integrity of the banks and could lead the river to change course during the rainy season, flooding nearby Tanphare village.<\/P>
\u201cGold mining with the use of all this heavy machinery shouldn\u2019t be done here. If they continue to mine like this, our Myitsone scenery will be lost forever,\u201d she said.<\/P>
\u201cTanphare village may also have flooding issues. I\u2019m very much worried that we would lose all of our beautiful natural environment.\u201d<\/P>
Gold miners are dredging the Irrawaddy to collect the mineral from the riverbed, dumping the silt and wastewater back into the waterway and causing serious pollution, sources said.<\/P>
Illegal gold mines have operated along the Irrawaddy in previous years, but few have made as large an impact as those launched in the aftermath of the Feb. 1 military coup. In the 10 months since, Kachin has seen a significant increase in operations in Shwegu, Mohnyin, Chibwe, Sunprabon, Myitkyina, Hpakant, Tanaing and Waingmaw townships.<\/P>
Myanmar\u2019s previous military-backed government halted construction of the controversial U.S. $3.6 billion Chinese-backed Myitsone hydropower project on the Irrawaddy in Kachin state in 2011 because of concerns over potential flooding and other environmental impacts. Locals were also angry that 90 percent of its electricity would be exported to China.<\/P>
Residents told RFA they would continue to fight environmental threats to the region, regardless of who is in power.<\/P>
Kyaw Naing Soe of Shwegu township expressed concern that the nearby tourist attraction of Shwe Maw Gyun island, which is home to sacred Buddhist sites, would suffer irreparable damage as an increasing number of illegal gold miners have arrived in the area by boat since September.<\/P>
\u201cThe reason we are strongly opposed to these activities is that Shwe Maw Gyun island is one of the major landmarks of Kachin state and we don\u2019t want to see it destroyed,\u201d he said.<\/P>
\u201cIt\u2019s not just resistance from a religious point of view. It\u2019s a prominent landmark of Kachin state. The river\u2019s water level is quite low at present, but when the water level rises, the riverbanks will collapse.\u201d<\/P>
Resources at risk<\/P>
Under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, which was deposed by the military in February, the Kachin State Department of Mines had allocated 223 gold mines and 262 small-scale personal mines in 11 townships as of May 2020. The mine operators were not allowed to dredge the river and only permitted to dig 300 feet from the waterway.<\/P>
The NLD government also established rules preventing gold miners from dumping waste into the river. However, the current mining operators do not follow these rules, locals said.<\/P>
RFA called the director of the Kachin State Mining Department to inquire about the situation but received no response.<\/P>
Dr. Tu Khaung, the minister of natural resources for Myanmar\u2019s shadow National Unity Government (NUG), joined residents in criticizing the unregulated gold mining activities in Kachin.<\/P>
\u201cIt is true that gold mining operations have been on the rise in Kachin state since the coup,\u201d he said.<\/P>
\u201cIllegal gold mining is on the rise everywhere \u2014 it\u2019s as if there is no rule in the region. The junta is focusing its efforts to consolidate its power base, to hold onto power, and NUG is currently in no position to manage anything on the ground. Everything seems to be up for grabs.\u201d<\/P>
The sharp rise in unregulated gold mining is not only a cause for concern for the environment but also for various crimes and drug-related problems, residents said. They told RFA they are worried that if the economic crisis, which has worsened since the coup, is not addressed in time, the problem will only become worse.<\/P>
Kachin state\u2019s abundant natural resources \u2014 gold, amber, jade, copper, and rubies \u2014 have fueled a long-running civil war between the Kachin Independence Army, an ethnic armed organization, and the Myanmar military, which have clashed over the control of mining areas used to finance their operations.<\/P>
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Copyright \u00a9 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036Radio Free Europe–Copyright (c) 2015. RFE\/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe\/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036. <\/P>
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