Kachin residents from Bhamo district have sent a letter to demand all the Chinese rare-earth metals (REM) mining companies, to stop their operations and leave by the end of February.
“In our letter, we have set February 28th as the deadline for all miners and entrepreneurs to completely stop their machinery from operating”, a villager said.
Local residents have repeatedly demanded that Chinese companies stop REM mining. However there is no sign that the operations will be stopped, so we were forced to make another written request.
Kachin’s rare earth production makes Myanmar the world’s third-largest rare earth producer behind China and the US, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Most of Myanmar’s production is exported to China. Myanmar alone accounted for about 70% of China’s rare earth import value.
The protest letter continued : “We are not against the government, nor are we against the government’s business activities. But it is because rare earth mining is causing harm to us, we have to object to it” The residents said that “ we are protesting because mining will cause environmental damage, forest destruction, pollution of rivers and subsequent drinking water problems, and risks to wild animals.”
“We earn income from hillside farming and orchard business to send our children to school. Our natural environment fulfills our needs. So, we don’t want that environment to be damaged. That is why we are protesting against the mining”, an In Bar Par villager said.
Locals are also because REM mining sites are operating only about one mile away from residential villages such as In Bar Par, Dain Sein, Kyain Lap Par, La Na Par, Pha Lyan, Sa Mat Yan, Jan Khote.
These conditions may affect the local people's main livelihood based on cultivating walnuts, quince, tea, coffee plantations and farming. In Bar Par and the surrounding villages are controlled by the KIO/KIA (Kachin Independence Army.
Locals of In Bar Par village in Mansi Township, Bhamo District, have also demanded that as well as the Chinese mining companies and they have also asked the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) to leave by February 28th. In Bar Par and surrounding villages, are controlled by the KIO/KIA (Kachin Independence Army).
KNG (the Kachin News Group) had also reported Kachin villagers had written to the KIO asking them to stop its plans for a mine in Dingsing Pa.. For three years, the KIO has allowed Chinese investors to mine rare earths in the N’kawng Pa and Gauri Krung mountain range. The villagers have urged that, “The KIO should
respect our voice. As a government, it must protect the people and respect their wishes,” said a social volunteer, who also requested anonymity.
According to KIO spokesperson Col Naw Bu, officials in the eastern district are discussing the issue.
There have been some rumors that REM mining will be stopped after residents complained to the KIO Central Command, but in reality, no official statement has come out yet.
Rare earth elements (REE) are used for a variety of applications such as semiconductors, mobile phones, computer hard drives, electric and hybrid vehicles, and flat panel displays and televisions. REE ores contain metals that, when combined with chemicals from the leaching pool, pollute the air, water and soil. In addition, the ores are often laced with radioactive thorium and uranium, which have adverse health effects.
REM mining projects in Mansi started on September 11th last year near In Bar Par village and residents started protesting three days later until today. Residents of In Bar Par and surrounding villages have also told Network Media Group that they will continue to protest until REM mining in their area is completely stopped.
