The Shan State Farmers’ Network (SSFN) and the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) released a joint statement on Thursday, calling for the incoming Burmese government to halt gold mining operations in eastern Shan State’s Tachileik Township.

Nang La, a resident from Na Hai Long village in Tachileik, and a spokesperson for the group was quoted in the press release describing the difficulties her community has endured because of gold mining in the area. She said the villager’s rice fields have been destroyed every year by the mining operations.

“Now villagers are worried about flooding in the village,” she said.

“They are afraid to stay in the village due to fears of possible flooding. Some have been looking for a new place to live,” she added.

“Villagers in Na Hai Long, Tachileik Township, have been suffering from the impacts of gold mining in the nearby Loi Kham hills for almost a decade,” read the statement. “Their main water source has become clogged and polluted with cyanide-filled waste, and about 300 acres of fields have become unusable.”

The statement also reported that the companies involved in gold mining in the area are Sai Saik Pyo Ye, Shwe Taung and Loi Kham Long.

According to the report, in late February, trucks from three mining companies, Sai Saik Pyo Ye, Shwe Taung and Loi Kham Long brought about 30 villagers from Na Hai Long village to the border town of Tachileik to receive compensation for the damage to their fields caused by toxic mining waste.

“The companies provided cash for 7 acres of land at a rate of 12,000 baht per acre. They promised up to 3 million baht for the entire village,” the statement reported. The Thai baht is commonly used in eastern Shan State.

With regards to the compensation, there was no prior agreement between the mining company and the village headman or the villagers, according to the statement.

“The companies are pouring even more waste into our fields than before. How can we accept money from them to destroy our lives?” said a farmer from Na Hai Long.

Sai Hor Hseng of the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) said that the companies are paying off the villagers to cover up the problem while attention is focused on the political transition occurring at the national level.

“The people in Burma and international communities should know that mining companies are doing this in order to stop residents from complaining,” he said.

Sai Hor Hseng said what the companies are doing is not sincere or transparent.

Sai Ai Pao, the outgoing Shan State Mining and Forestry Minister, had ordered the mining companies to cease their operations in July 2014. The order was later reversed and the mining firms are still operating in eastern Shan State.

BY SAI AW / Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)