Jade scavengers in Nansipon fear expulsion by force

Jade scavengers living in the mining areas of Nansipon in Sagaing Region’s Kani Township fear that authorities will remove them by force after they failed to leave voluntarily by the May 30 deadline.

The area’s hundreds of jade scavengers were ordered to leave by local authorities after violence erupted between the scavengers and local mining companies on May 17. Four scavengers were shot dead during the clashes. An investigation is underway to determine whether they were shot by police or by military forces.

“There are about 1,000 scavengers still living in the area, though many scavengers have already left. Some moved here with their families and some have their own shops. Their children are attending schools in the area, so it is difficult for them to leave,” scavenger Min Thein Naing told Eleven.

“They have not been forced to leave the area yet as the investigation commission is still at the Nansipon mine. At present, security forces are coming every morning and afternoon by car to warn them not to stay here,” the scavenger added.

Raw jade scavengers have been working in the Nansipon area since 1990, but they began arriving in large numbers last year. Their numbers had reached 800 by May 2016. Tensions rose between scavengers and the eight mining companies operating in the area as the companies fenced off their property and scavengers attacked company employees with rocks.

Since last month’s conflict, the Sagaing Region government has devised a four-pronged approach to easing the tensions: imposing more scrutiny on jade companies; designating dump areas; enacting rules for scavengers; and removing undocumented jade scavengers from the area.

The last prong may be the most difficult to carry out.

“We have no money to return our native town. We have been here for about 10 months. We make a living by selling vegetables in the mining area. If they want to expel us by force, it is their choice,” a female scavenger told Eleven.

A report from the commission investigating the conflict is expected to be released on June 10. Scavengers say they are being forced to leave so that their testimony is not included in the report.