LORDS of of JADE JADE How a narcotics kingpin and his associates used opaque company structures to take t ake a dominant role in Myanmar’s most valuable natural resource business DECEMBER 2015
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LORDS OF JADE
Companies controlled by a rogues’ gallery of generals, army companies, ‘crony’ tycoons and drug lords have turned the jade mining region of Hpakant into a dystopian wasteland. The companies deposit waste from their mining operations in huge tailings dumps with little regard for the hazards these pose to local people and to the environment. The collapse of one such dump, on 21 November 2015, killed over 100 jade ‘hand-pickers’ who were living in a makeshift settlement nearby. These pictures, by photographer Minzayar, capture grim scenes of the aftermath of the disaster. According to press reports, one of the firms that had been dumping at this site was Yadanar Yaung Chi.i As explained on page 18, Yadanar Yaung Chi is alleged by jade business insiders and observers to be part of the Wa-related group of jade companies that are the subject of this report; however the firm denies this. CREDIT: Minzayar i Min Khi Thein and and Esther Htusan / Associated Press, Press, ‘Search ends for victims of Myanmar jade mining landslide’; 25 November November 2015, http://hosted.ap.org/dyna http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/ mic/ stories/A/AS_MYANMAR_LANDSLIDE?SITE=ILBL stories/A/AS_MYANMAR_L ANDSLIDE?SITE=ILBLO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLA O&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAUL TE=DEFAULT, T, last accessed 27 November 2015. Ei Ei Toe Lwin / Myanmar Times, ‘Jade mine landslide death toll exceeds 100’; 23 November 2015, http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/17754-deat http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/17754-death-toll-feared-highest h-toll-feared-highest-in-a-decade-after-landslide-hits-in-a-decade-after-landslide-hits jade-town.html, last accessed 27 November November 2015. Communication from journalist; November November 2015.
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LORDS OF JADE
Companies controlled by a rogues’ gallery of generals, army companies, ‘crony’ tycoons and drug lords have turned the jade mining region of Hpakant into a dystopian wasteland. The companies deposit waste from their mining operations in huge tailings dumps with little regard for the hazards these pose to local people and to the environment. The collapse of one such dump, on 21 November 2015, killed over 100 jade ‘hand-pickers’ who were living in a makeshift settlement nearby. These pictures, by photographer Minzayar, capture grim scenes of the aftermath of the disaster. According to press reports, one of the firms that had been dumping at this site was Yadanar Yaung Chi.i As explained on page 18, Yadanar Yaung Chi is alleged by jade business insiders and observers to be part of the Wa-related group of jade companies that are the subject of this report; however the firm denies this. CREDIT: Minzayar i Min Khi Thein and and Esther Htusan / Associated Press, Press, ‘Search ends for victims of Myanmar jade mining landslide’; 25 November November 2015, http://hosted.ap.org/dyna http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/ mic/ stories/A/AS_MYANMAR_LANDSLIDE?SITE=ILBL stories/A/AS_MYANMAR_L ANDSLIDE?SITE=ILBLO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLA O&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAUL TE=DEFAULT, T, last accessed 27 November 2015. Ei Ei Toe Lwin / Myanmar Times, ‘Jade mine landslide death toll exceeds 100’; 23 November 2015, http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/17754-deat http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/17754-death-toll-feared-highest h-toll-feared-highest-in-a-decade-after-landslide-hits-in-a-decade-after-landslide-hits jade-town.html, last accessed 27 November November 2015. Communication from journalist; November November 2015.
