Mining in conflict zones: a new form of military offensive
By MWMWN
The Burmese government has been granting mining concessions throughout Karenni state even though no political negotiations to bring about lasting peace have begun with the Karenni resistance forces. This is a ploy to benefit economically from exploitation of local natural resources while strengthening Burmese military control over the Karenni people. According to a recent global survey on natural resource management among 58 countries by the Revenue Watch Institute, which ranked Norway first and the USA second, Burma was ranked at the bottom. The Burmese military-owned UMEHL and China’s Wan Bao company have been jointly operating a copper mining project at Letpadaung mountain in Sagaing division of Burma without the agreement of the local people. The environmental and social impacts have caused local people to carry out prolonged protests against the project until today. The poor management of natural resources and the use of force to crack down on peaceful demonstrators, which left many monks and local villagers injured, have brought shame on President Thein Sein’s government.
Excavation for copper mining on Letpadaung Mountain
Affected local villagers at Letpadaung demonstrating against mining companies
In ethnic areas, the Burmese government, led by President Thein Sein, has been forging ceasefire agreements with ethnic groups, but at the same time maintaining military preparedness by building new military camps, reinforcing old ones with concrete, and storing ammunition and rations at front-line posts. Moreover, even without direct military offensives, the government has launched “economic ofensives” in different ethnic states, including in Karenni State, causing divisions among ethnic
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armed groups. After the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) signed a cease-fire agreement in March, 2012, the Naypyitaw government has been granting mining concessions to different Karenni armed groups, creating conflict among these groups, as well as between the armed groups and the Karenni people. Local people are now suffering increased loss and destruction of their ancestral lands, mountains and rivers due to the impacts of new and expanded mining concessions. The government claims it is building peace, but in fact is monopolizing the lands, mountains, and rivers of our people. Burma’s 2008 constitution, Chapter 1, Article 37 (a) states that “The
Union is the ultimate owner of all lands and all natural resources above and below the ground, above and beneath the water and the atmosphere in the union.” This is giving the government license to grab as many natural resources and lands as it wants from the people. This is blatant exploitation. Map showing mining in Karenni state
Before KNPP and Burmese government signed a cease-fire in March, 2012, there were only three mining projects operating in Karenni state, but this has increased up to 16 projects in six out of seven townships, which have been allowed by the Nay Pyi Taw government after the cease-fire. Among these townships, Pasaung has been the worst affected, with the increased mining causing many problems.
By MWMWN Gold mining in Salween river from Wan Palah village to Pasaung by UMHEL Company and U Tun Kyaw, a chairman of KNPLF
In Pasaung township, the Mawchi mining project, covering 7,200 acres, is owned by the Burmese military’s Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited(UMEHL) and controlled by Ye Tun Kyaw company (owned by former Burmese military officer U Ye Tun Kyaw, now an MP for Pasaung in the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party). According to local sources, this mining area will be shared with the local ethnic armed groups and local mining companies, but they need to submit proposals to UMEHL.
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Due to the current mining, local people’s land, gardens and forests have been destroyed. Rivers and streams have been polluted. Workers are dissatisfied with the mine owners, who have paid them low wages and not provided them with health care or social security. Women have suffered special hardship, as they have lost their traditional livelihoods such as self-sufficient agriculture and animal breeding. Despite the health and safety risks, they are obliged to take on work in the mining areas for the survival of their families
permission was granted by the Naypyidaw government. Nan Yin Mon Aung mining company has been allowed to mine in five new sites in the areas of Thalaw Lo, Bwar Doe, Pae Kee and Tee Lay Kee areas, located north of the Mawchi-Toungoo car road. Yadana Sai Kaung Myat Kyaw company has been granted eleven new mining sites in the areas of Yotaka, Shodaw Kho, Pahaw Kho, Poebu Kho, Slaw Kee and Thalaw Lo, also north of the Mawchi-Toungoo car road. The local communities have not given their consent to these new companies coming in to carry out mining.
(Note: According to local sources, even though the total size of the 16 new mining concessions is 792 acres, when actual mining takes place it is likely to impact over 3,000 acres of land.)
By MWMWN More women now need to work for mining companies to earn a living
For example, the government has granted new mining concessions to the Kayah Ngwe Kyae company (owned by a local Karenni militia – KNSO) and some other mining companies outside the Mawchi mining area, which is causing fresh destruction of Karenni people’s lands, mountains and rivers
There have also been reports that the Kayin state government and Kayah state government have recommended an application by the Mawsaki mining company to survey for and mine tin and tungsten in an area of 100,000 acres (about 426 square kilometers) in the Mawsaki area, west of Mawchi, on the border of Kayin and Kayah state. The Mawsaki company is owned by U Tun Kyaw (chair of the Karenni Nationalities People’s Libera-
By MWMWN Forests near Kaw Du Der village, outside the Mawchi area, are now being cleared by bulldozers of the Kayah Ngwe Kyae company
Yadana Sai Kaung Myat Kyaw mining company and Nan Yin Mon Aung mining company applied in February, 2013, to mine for tin and tungsten in 16 new sites outside the existing Mawchi mining area, covering a total of 792 acres of land. The Kayah State government recommended the application, then 3
Map showing existing tin and tungsten mining areas and new areas where surveying and excavation are taking place in Pasaung Township.
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tion Front, now a government-controlled Border Guard Force) and an Australian company. Wellknown Myanmar actor Lwin Moe is also involved in this company. If mining takes place in these new concession areas, government-backed local militias and government troops will be sent in to provide security and impose increased control over the whole area. It is sure that that the Mawchi-Toungoo road will be rebuilt, as it is strategically important for the government. This is likely to take place after the construction of the new Salween bridge at Pasaung is complete. Local people worry that if the government attempts to rebuild the Mawchi-Toungoo road, this will spark renewed fighting between the government and Karenni resistance forces.
Why are we opposed to this expansion of mining? 1) Destruction of ancestral farming lands by mining companies will deprive local villagers of their livelihoods. 2) Without genuine peace, the mining expansion by companies and the government will fuel renewed armed conflict and bring further suffering to local people. 3)The mining concessions granted by the government to local armed groups are causing conflicts between local cease-fire groups and between local people. This appears to be a deliberate divideand-rule tactic, which is undermining national reconciliation and genuine peace building. 4)If conflict over ownership of natural resources occurs among local people and local armed groups, the government will use its military troops to control the area and impose military rule in the area.
Therefore, we the people have the following demands: 1) All new mining projects granted since the KNPP ceasefire in March 2012 must be stopped until there is constitutional reform granting ethnic states the right to control and manage their own natural resources under a federal system of government, and ensuring local communities the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent to any projects. 2)There must be new land laws which protect farmers from exploitation and seizure of their lands by mining companies. 3)The companies and the authorities must return all lands which they have confiscated from the people and pay suitable compensation for damage and loss of crops and livelihood. 4)We urge ethnic armed groups to protect our shared natural heritage, including our mountains, rivers, and agricultural lands, and to protect people’s livelihoods, not just focus on their own benefits.
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