Burma army encourages gold mining in Kachin villages abandoned by conflict

One of several gold mines in Mali Yang village which is actively run by Burma Army.  Photo: Kachin News Group

Burma army troops stationed on the front line in Kachin state have actively encouraged gold mining to take root in villages whose residents have fled due to fighting, the Kachin News Group has learned.


Small scale gold mining operations have sprung up at 20 separate sites located in the vicinity of three deserted villages, according to a local villager who recently visited those villages. Ga Ra Yang, Malang Yang and Mali Yang villages are all located along the Myitkyina to Bhamo road in eastern Kachin state's Waingmaw township.

“Entire houses have been burned.” says a recent visitor to the area who spoke to the Kachin News Group on condition of anonymity. “No one dares to return home because of the government troops.  Now, they are mining in the villager's mustard fields. The Miners says they have been invited in by the army”, said the man.

Most of the miners have come from lower Burma and their mining activities began after deals with local military forces based at Mali Yang village, one miner told KNG.

“We started working here after talking to the Mali Yang army post. First we originally planned to go Bhamo but we came here because they persuaded us,” the miner told KNG.

“We didn’t dare to come here but the army invited us,” the miner added.

According to the miner in order to get access to a small mining plot the he paid 300,000 Kyat to the army when he began 2 months ago. The miners then have to pay an additional 30,000-40,000 Kyat per month tax. The miner said he mines 20 yway (136.078MG) per day from his plot.

Currently, Mali Yang post near to where the mine is operating is stationed by an army unit from the Wuntu-based Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 120. Additional units from Light Infantry Division (LID) No. 33 are also stationed in the area according to villagers.

Many of the residents of the villages where the mining is now taking place fled to government controlled areas including Myitkyina and Waingmaw towns after the fighting began. Other residents have fled to Kachin Independence Organization controlled areas.

Last year government troops stole Djenkol beans from abandoned farms near Laiza. Farms at Ga Ra Yang, Katsu Yang, Dabak Yang, Ja Pu, Sambai and Awng Ja Yang were pillaged by the army, according to local residents.

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