Volume 3 Number 2, July-December 2015 NATURAL RESOURCES AND LOCAL COMMUNITY: THE CASE OF JADE PRODUCTION AND LOCAL COMMUNITY IN LONEKHINN-HPAKANT JADE MINE AREA, KACHIN STATE, MYANMAR Hla Hla Kyi Department of Anthropology, University of Mandalay, Republic of the Union of Myanmar ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION The aim of this paper is to Every society has to manage explore jade production affects on natural resources for their society and natural environment in subsistence. There are three types of Lonekhinn-Hpakant Jade Mine Area, resources namely; human resource, Kachin State, Myanmar. Lonekhinn- natural resource and man-made Hpakant Jade Mine Area is the largest resource. Among them, some natural jade production area in Myanmar, resources are not renewable. If the many people come and work in this people exceedingly utilize natural study area. Besides, Jade Companies resources by only a single economic use modern technology and machines outlook, the natural resources will to search for jade. Therefore, use of drop dramatically within centuries. modern technology and machines Man's actions make changed the affects on natural environment. To fundamental balances in nature. For achieve the aim of this study, example, cutting down forests can qualitative research method was used. change patterns of rainfall and cause KII (Key informant interview), serious erosion; the use of chemicals participant observation, FGI (Focus and firearms can kill off species of Group interview) were employed to animals and birds that have survived get the data. As a result, this paper for millions of years. Besides, global indicated that jade production can warming and climate change are also provide the social welfare in society not exceptions. Therefore, we should but not in natural environment and examine the relationship between natural resources. utilizing natural resources and local community. The aim of this paper is to explore jade production affects on KEY WORDS society and natural environment in Lonekhinn-Hpakant Jade Mine Area, jade production, technology, natural Kachin State, Myanmar. environment 62 Volume 3 Number 2, July-December 2015 The term ‘Jade’; literally RESEARCH METHODOLOGY means green stone or Kyauk-sein in The research method is Myanmar Language. Chinese word qualitative research method. Research for jade is “yu”. English word “Jade” tools are key informant interview, is derived from a Spanish word participant observation and focus “ijada” which means the stone that group interview. The population of cures the kidney disease. Greeks the research is natives and migrant called “kidney stone” because they people in the study area, discovered that it cures the diseases administrative people, business of the kidney. In the world, jade is people, merchants, company's found in Myanmar, Yunnan, Tibet, working staff, brokers and "yemasay" Mexico and South Africa. In (waste stones) jade stone searchers. Myanmar, jade is found in ten Research participants are 124 persons Uruvillages (ten villages of Uru) of in Lonekhinn-Hpakant Jade Mine upper Chindwin, Hpakant, Area. Research data is collected from Tawhmaw, Putao, Mawhan of Kachin March, 2010 to March, 2013. State, Mawlu of Indaw Township, and Khamti of Sagaing Division. Hpakant Township is the largest jade DEVELOPMENT OF JADE production area and local TRADE IN MYANMAR community's economy is based on jade business. But jade is the In early times, the discovery nonrenewable natural resource if jade that green jade of fine quality is over production, it needs to occurred in northern Burma consider the effects on the natural (Myanmar) was made accidentally by environment and local community. a Yunnanese trader in the thirteen centuary. In the 14th century, the Yunnan government made efforts to RESEARCH AIM AND OBJEC- find jade in the area, but was not TIVES successful. Only in the late 18th century did Sino-Myanmar jade This research aims to point trading begin. On 29 November out the jade production effects on 1885, the Upper Myanmar Kingdom society and natural environment in was annexed by the British. Myanmar Lonekhinn-Hpakant Jade Mine Area, was ruled as part of India by the Kachin State, Myanmar. The British and military rule was declared objectives are to explore jade until 1897 (D.P.S.L Ghals 1980). business effects on local community Every year under the British Colonial in the study area and to elicit how Government, the British Commis- jade production affects the natural sioners of Sagaing auctioned off the environment in the study area. jade mines and collected the revenue from the jade trade. In the Colonial 63 Volume 3 Number 2, July-December 2015 Period, only the Kachin Du was merchants of Hong Kong. Moreover, (Tribe leaders) had been collecting the jade was purchased for a bargain, taxes in jade mines. When the Second and there were also malpractices in World War broke out, all the jade foreign exchanges, thus causing mine businesses had come to a stop, losses to the country. So Myanmar starting from April, 1942. After the entered and participated in Foreign Second World War, the borderland Trade Fairs for selling Myanmar administration department made gems in the Myanmar market, and efforts to re-open the jade mines. direct contacts were made through Most of the jade that had been bought trading missions to other countries. by Chinese merchants carried the Thus, offers were received to come precious stone to Yangon and from and visit Myanmar on trading there sent it by ship to Hong Kong or business (Myanmar Gems Exhibition some other Chinese ports (Arnold Report 1964). On 11 April 1964, the Wright & Others 1910).On 4 January export of Myanmar gems was 1948, Myanmar became an privatized, and measures were taken independent country. The Myanmar to lay down the guidelines for government made preparations for systematic trading of gems. The jade the Province and Mainland trading business was undertaken by developments. The Vice Consultant Myanmar Mining and Mineral Minister Sama Duwa Sin Wa Naung Extension Corporation since 1964. of Kachin State Borderland Thus, with the efforts of the Administration Department made Myanmar government, through jade efforts to re-open jade mines so as to production and trading are towards solve the unemployment problems of the progress of the economic sector the local people of Myitkyina and of the state. After 1988, Myanmar Bhamo and to raise the standard (Jade Government licensed individual Manual 1950). Although Myanmar private jade miners for jade jade had been recognized as the best excavation and trading. During these of its kind in the world, only the years, jade excavation's technology Chinese had cherished jade in East developed. So, there are over 500 Asia, and so the principal market had jade companies in Myanmar 2008. been in Shanghai, China, before Moreover, Myanmar gems organiza- World War 11. After World War 11, tion began on 1 August 2007. There Hong Kong had become the principal were 2517 members in this jade market. However the real organization in 2009. Gems exhibit- customers purchased jade through tion had been held 80 times from such countries as China, England, 1964 to 2010. Today, the world's jade France, West Germany and USA. So market has found way into Myanmar. Myanmar, the original source of jade, The following picture shows the and the customers of other countries motto of ministry of mining. had been exploited by the jade 64 Volume 3 Number 2, July-December 2015 Figure 1. Motto of Ministry of Mining. Table 1. The jade production of nationwide and Lonekhinn-Hpakant Jade Mine Area. Sources: Weekly Eleven Journal (11.5.2011) and Township Administration Department 2009. The above data shows the nationwide Mine Area. This data points out that jade production and the jade during 10 years nationwide produc- produced in Lonekhinn-Hpakant Jade tions are 209889 tons and Lonekhinn- 65 Volume 3 Number 2, July-December 2015 Hpakant Area is responsible for most which is tightly filled layer of of national production. It can be small stones and pebbles. Underneath understood that the higher jade this layer is the third layer called consumption has been followed by “Kyauk Kyaw” (jadeite layer). It is in greater jade production. this layer that you first begin to see small jade stones. The next layer is the fourth layer of sand stone (sand JADE PRODUCTION METHODS layer) that you can also find natural jade stone. In the lowest fifth layer There are five layers in jade called “Pha” (bed rock), there is no mine. The first layer is the silt layer. jade to be found, so the digging stops The second layer is called at the fourth layer only. “Cut Kyaw” (gravel bed layer), 1. First Layer = Silt Layer 2. Second Layer = Cut Kyaw (gravel bed layer) 3. Third Layer =Kyauk Kyaw (jadeite layer) 4. Fourth Layer = Sand Layer 5. Fifth Layer = Pha (bed rock) Figure 2. Jade Mine Layers. TRADITIONAL METHODS The earth pit; as soon as the There are three types of jade cold season harvest of paddy is done, production; earth pit, water pit, and the miners start digging the pits for sluicing. These methods were used in jade production. They need at least 3 the past before 2000. to 5 men. They start first with the earth pit. 66 Volume 3 Number 2, July-December 2015 It is like digging a pit for the toilet. the water is full, they open the water They use the spade and mattock to gate and the force of the water dig the ground. Two people dig the washed away the dug up earth and earth and one put the loose earth into stones. Then they look for the jade a cane basket to the top. Two more stone. This method is a less costly persons on the surface carry away way of searching jade.