KEG says if locals don't agree to rare earth mining near Jik Lwe village in Chipwe Township, it should be 'terminated as soon as possible'

KACHIN STATE – Regarding the efforts by Chinese businessmen to mine rare earth minerals near Jik Lwe village in Chipwe Township, Kachin State, an official from the Kachin Environmental Group (KEG) told Mizzima on June 27 that the will of the local residents is paramount, and if the residents do not agree, it is necessary to 'terminate it as soon as possible.' He also stated that new projects that could bring negative consequences to the local population and everyone should be terminated. "What we mean is, if this project is not needed by these people, these local residents, and they do not agree, then the relevant organization, the relevant government, needs to terminate it as soon as possible," said the KEG official. Currently, efforts are underway to mine rare earth minerals in the Shizaw area, about two miles from Jik Lwe village in Chipwe Township. Local residents say that two representatives of the Chinese employer and two village elders are going around persuading the remaining villagers. It is reported that during these persuasion efforts, there have been instances of pressure and threats during meetings, and since elders, rather than young and middle-aged people, are primarily being persuaded to sign agreements, concerns are also rising among local residents. "They said that if they can't do it one way, they will find another way. When they came to talk to us directly in the meeting, there were parts where they threatened us. They also said, 'No matter how you protect it, they will find a way to do it,'" a local resident told Mizzima on June 25. These efforts to mine rare earth minerals began around February of this year, and local residents say that relevant officials from the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) have also instructed that if the villagers do not agree, it should not proceed, and it should only proceed if the villagers agree. "They went to survey the ground once. When they went to survey, the village people went to the office, the current KIA/KIO office, with the representative who went to survey and spoke. At that time, the people at the office asked the representative, 'How many years has it been since you stopped living here? ' He replied, '50 years.' He then said, 'This is my grandparents' land, so I want to earn a little.' At that time, the KIA/KIO government said, 'If that's the case, you should stop now, stop immediately. If the people do not agree, it absolutely cannot be done,'" he said. Therefore, although the survey was halted, it is said that they are continuing to persuade people to implement the project by building tents on the ground and stationing two people there. Chipwe region was captured by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in September 2024. Local residents say that similar attempts were made when the region was controlled by the military junta before the KIA took control, but they were halted due to local opposition and the military junta's refusal to allow mining near the village. KEG stated that natural disasters have occurred in areas where rare earth minerals have been mined, and similar disasters could occur in new mining areas. Furthermore, there could be negative health impacts on those working in the mines and local residents. A Global Witness report from May 2024 indicated that Myanmar's export of rare earth oxides to China peaked at 19,500 tons in 2021, the year of the coup, and surged to 41,700 tons in 2023. The report noted that this high demand for the metal is driving further degradation of the ground situation. ISP Myanmar reported in its July 2025 publication that rare earth mining in Kachin State has significantly increased since the military coup, with the number of rare earth mining blocks in Chipwe alone rising from around 100 before the coup to 357 after the coup. ISP Myanmar reported that unregulated rare earth mining has severely damaged the environment, leading to water pollution, air pollution, chemical infiltration, and the destruction of local ecosystems. It has also impacted the agricultural activities of local residents. Due to soil contamination, the harvested crops can no longer be exported and sold to China as before. Furthermore, water and lead contamination have led to a decline in livestock farming, and health and social impacts are also a cause for concern.