"Inequality, Discord and Insecurity in Myanmar’s ‘Sacrifice Zone’" 5 September 2022

Recent reports by Global Witness and AP news highlight severe environmental destruction by unregulated and illegal rare earths extraction (REE) in northeastern Myanmar bordering China. “There is a name for what Myanmar has become: A “sacrifice zone,” or a place that destroys itself for the good of the world. The sacrifice is visible from the air, in toxic turquoise pools that dot the landscape covered by mountain jungles just a few years ago. “ [...]

Widening social discord and grievances

Fearful of raising their voices against REE mines, locals rarely raise their concerns. The situation has worsened since the coup, with the doors to the civic space being closed, not only at the local level but also at the national level. Powerful and rich militias and their allies, who have benefited from this lucrative business, use various means to shut down concerned voices, including threats, coercion and incentives.

A few years ago, some locals were arrested for raising their voices against REE mines. Recently in April of this year, a local rights defender against REE mine extraction was arrested by the militia, according to Kachin News. A recent report of Global Witness also includes a threat from militia leaders to REE opponents.

Another way of shutting down complaints is giving away a lump sum amount of compensation by Chinese businessmen to those who lost their lives or farmland. Locals said family members of a worker who was killed by a landslide in the REE mine sites or a worker who was crushed to death by a REE-loaded truck, received thousands of yuan as compensation. [...]

The social and economic landscape of the sacrifice zone reveals that the impact of illegal business practices and natural resource exploitation in the border area has widespread implications for human security issues, including increased social inequality, fragmentation, vulnerability, and overall, the country’s peace and conflict dynamics. It has also implications for rising anti-China sentiment since the coup. [...]