In the Kachin region (a Burmese state at the foot of the Himalayan chain) the often fatal incidents caused by landslides in the frantic rush for the exploitation of jadeite continue. In fact, this precious resource is mainly concentrated in Myanmar and, according to Global Witness, was worth 31 billion US$ in 2014, that is half the GDP of the turbulent country. The situation is so difficult that even the Minister of Mines of the Kachin State, Hkyen Le Awn, spoke without mincing his words declaring that President Obama and Aung San Suu Kyi, once leader of the opposition party and now influent State Advisor in Myanmar, made a big mistake when they abolished the sanctions. In fact, last September, the 1987 restrictions to the jade trade, meant to hit the interests of the military class, ended. In the month of February nine people lost their lives near the city of Hpakant due to a subsidence of a hill. Many areas are no longer safe after being excavated in previous research operations carried out by the big companies sieving and abandoning the less promising territory to focus only on important findings. Searchers coming from remote lands often work in the area illegally. As last August the authorities dramatically reduced the exploitation permits, they target those dangerous areas compromised by previous operations. However, for some time, also armed assaults have added to catastrophes. The latest attack occurred on 3rd November 2016 and led to the destruction of Yadanar Yaung Chi Company equipment for a value worth about 5 million US$. Since 1990 a fight for the control of the rich hills has been going on between local nationalists and the central government exploiting the very strong demand of jade favouring the military elites that control the resource.
Gem News by Trasparenze News, published on Rivista Italiana di Gemmologia #1, May 2017.
