Mizzima-May 9
Residents of Mansat village in Namhkam Township, located in a Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA)-controlled area of northern Shan State, are calling on the TNLA to take decisive action against ongoing silicon rock mining by Myanmar Golden Crop Co., Ltd. (MGC), which they say is operating without proper public consent and has caused environmental and social damage. Despite strong opposition from the community, MGC has continued mining operations in Ward 8 of Mansat village. The village is home to around 500 households, mostly of Ta’ang and Palaung ethnicity. Villagers allege the company obtained approval through a non-transparent process, relying solely on a signature from the village administrator without broad community agreement. The company, they say, has failed to disclose its operating model or engage with local residents. Hundreds of villagers marched to the MGC mining site on 5 May in protest, accusing the company of damaging farmland and contributing to rising social issues, including rape and drug trafficking—crimes allegedly involving company employees that have gone unpunished.
“Only the community suffers the consequences,” one resident told Mizzima, highlighting that those responsible for the abuses have not been held accountable. Community members claim they initially wrote to MGC seeking transparency and resolution over land disputes, but the company failed to respond. They also question the legitimacy of the contract signed on 12 April 2025, granting MGC permission to continue mining, asserting it was approved only by the village administrator without full consent from local leaders or the wider community. Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2025/05/09/22157
