In an interview with the BNI Election Newsroom, newly elected Lower House MP, U Tint Soe, spoke about the current situation involving the excavation of natural resources in his hometown, Hpakant, in western Kachin State.
Q: Can you tell us about the current situation in Hpakant?
A: I want to say that there is no rule of law or peace in Hpakant now. I want to say that Global Witness’s recent report on the status of Myanmar jade resources is nearly all correct.
Businesses owned by local citizens are very few in our Hpakant. Also, the real owners of the companies are not Chinese people born in Myanmar but Chinese citizens. I have been living in Hpakant for 27 years. As everyone knows, our citizens did not have the right to receive much benefit from the natural resources in our country.
Q: How much damage has natural resources excavation done to the area?
A: The amount of environmental damage is quite unbelievable. Our Hpakant area was an area with natural mountains and presentable [natural] resources in the past.
Now, all the soil has been destroyed. If I were to talk in terms of area, nearly 400 square miles have been totally destroyed. They have become pot-holes and waste soils. It has become like a desert. If I were to talk about the extent of deforestation caused by companies that cut down the trees for daily use such as firewood, coal and constructing buildings. We could cut the trees and bamboo at the entrance of our village in the past. Now, we have to travel at least 40 miles from the village to cut down trees. A lot of conservation effort is needed. (Courtesy of Mizzima)
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