Advocacy group takes aim at negative impacts of unregulated mining in Myanmar

By Admin 02 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
2 June 2023, Sittwe

The Myanmar Mining Watch Network said in a statement on May 29 that mining in four states is inflicting environmental and social impacts.

While the rule of law is declining in the country in post-coup political turmoil, Kachin, Shan, Kayah (Karenni) and Kayah states are suffering from the negative impacts of unregulated mining, the organisation said. Illegal mining has surged in those ethnic states, with the Myanmar regime allowing its allied militias to levy taxes on those mines, the network added. 

Gold, tin, nickel, rare earth metals, coal, jade and platinum are mined on a large scale in those four states and mining companies are violating laws, said the statement.

“Companies would not follow EIA [Environmental Impact Assessment] and SIA [Social Impact Assessment] because the rule of law is weak. It would be best not to permit any [mining] business now,” said an environmentalist who has engaged in environmental conservation for more than a decade.

The Myanmar Mining Watch Network  called for a cessation of all ongoing mining processes as they are causing damages and losses including scarcity of water, agricultural land, various fish in the rivers, animals, medical plants, flora and fauna due to chemical poisoning caused by the mines.

“We call for abolition of all the laws regarding the management of water, soil and air of indigenous people who are the original owners. We demand federal natural resource governance. We also call for blacklisting organisations that are funding the regime with mines,” said an official of the network.

Mountains, land and forests, rivers and streams are destroyed due to the use of heavy machinery in mining areas, which leads to deforestation, ecological damage, scarcity of drinking water and pollution of water and soil, the advocacy group said.

There have also been social impacts as landslides caused by the use of heavy machinery have inflicted casualties. There were also accidents in which people drowned in pits. Drug abuse at mining sites has also increased. Other social impacts include forced displacement, forced labour and increased child labour, said the statement.