2023 Hpakant jade mine disaster

The 2023 Hpakant jade mine disaster occurred on August 13, 2023, when the Hpakant Jade Mines experienced the third documented landslide in the area.^[1] Hpakant is located in Kachin, Myanmar. The landslide killed 32 people when tailings (mining waste) swept the miners into a nearby lake.^[2] Myanmar is considered the sodium alumina silicate (jade) capital of the world because it has the highest concentration of jade.^[1] Hpakant provides 70% of the world's jade.^[3] It is estimated that Myanmar’s jade industry is worth more than 31 billion dollars annually, about half of its GDP.^[4][3] Despite the 1974 Nationalisation of Industry Act, most of Myanmar’s jade is sold illegally.^[5] Chinese companies work with the military to create untraceable Chinese-owned shell companies like Wai Kharmine.^[6] Myanmar’s jade industry is contentious because it degrades the environment and endangers miners, while supporting political turmoil by financially aiding the military junta (Tatmadaw) and ethnic militias.^[7]

Since its independence from the British in 1948, Myanmar has been in an almost constant state of civil war.^[8] In 2021, the Tatmadaw overthrew the democratic system.^[7] However, the Tatmadaw is not the singular ruling body. There are several rival ethnic military states such as Kachin’s Kachin Independence Army (KIA).^[7] These groups have created their own governing systems. There are also ousted democratic groups such as the National Democracy League (NDL), seeking to regain control.^[9] During the NDL’s rule, Myanmar signed a Global Trans Initiative to encourage a more transparent system and temporarily “closed” jade mine licenses in 2016.^[10]

Currently, the KIA and Tatmadaw enforce their own taxes, corruption system, and control over the jade-filled mountains.^[5] Because of corruption, Myanmar is losing 80-90% of potential public funding that could be generated from the billion-dollar jade industry.^[11] The continuous coups have prevented Myanmar from developing infrastructure systems that serve all citizens.^[12] The Tatmadaw, militias, Chinese, and drug dealers function as one economic mechanism that uses Hkapant’s 300,000 jade miners to further their political and financial gains.^[2]

The Tatmadaw and KIA monitor the jade industry and movement around Hkapant via checkpoints.^[13] They forbid foreigners from entering Hkapant, but “allow” known drug dealers and Chinese traders to enter.^[12] Drug dealers work with the different ruling factions to create a vicious circle that consists of jade miners working long days, being paid little, and using their income to buy drugs like heroin.^[14] Drug use, prostitution, and unsafe living circumstances have led to the increase in HIV and Hepatitis C.^[13]

Myanmar’s governing systems view jade miners as disposable and not worthy of protection. The ruling factions stay in power by economically harnessing China’s voracious demand for jade.^[6] They avoid creating safeguards for miners because safeguards would empower workers but decrease jade production and the government's potential profits.^[15] As long as the Tatmadaw and militia keep whistleblowers away from Hpakant, there will be no regulations to safeguard jade miners. The lack of regulations will allow for an increase in mudslides and environmental disasters from jade mining.^[10] These disasters will lead to an increase in poverty, HIV, environmental desecration, and premature deaths.^[11]