Tang Gau Village (Aung Bar Lay Mine)

Background of the Village

Since 1980, local people rely on jade mining for their livelihoods and they have been doing for generations. The area has been under the control of KIO brigade (6) until 2012. It is adjacent to Kansi village and the village has a cool and clear Uru stream. Tang Gau Village is 22 miles far from Hpakant Town. The village of Tang Gau village is named after Tang Gau Mountain. People from different background and ethnicities live in this village. It has a primary school. In 2012, Burmese military has taken over Kansi village which used to be under control of KIO and the Burmese military use the village as strategy place under the battalion no.33.

Local Livelihoods

The main occupation of Tang Gau village residents are jade mining, washer earning, jade trading and only small number work in agriculture and shifting cultivation because jade mining has become local main industry.

Social Life

Despite people from different background such as different ethnicities, religious belief who come to work as jade miners but people help each other in this village. As diverse ethnicities, it has many traditional including Kachin, Bamar, Shan.

Challenges for villagers

Due to political instability and complexity of conflict currently happening in the country, jade mining has been suspended. Investors are lack of confident to invest and lesser visitor visiting the area due to lack of security. Traveling is allowed with only a limited time. Authorities are checking and monitoring more often and this made great difficulties for villagers to make a living.

Situation of Hpakant Town

According to current situation, local people are worried because of the Burmese junta troops are present around the town of Hpakant. Curfew was issued and if anyone found will be arrested. During the night, sound of shooting can be heard. Therefore, there is less jade trade in Hpakant.

Land tax

Regarding to the excavation of the village’s middle road, the Burmese military’s strategy post, KIO and local businessmen were met and discussed and then they began operating in April, 2022. It is known that businessmen have to pay 500 Lakh as land tax but some people pay only half of it. For KIO, the tax is not relevant to them because of join venture. Fuel tank that transported into Tang Gau village (Aung Bar Lay Mine) is charged 10000 Kyat per ft and 1000 Kyat per a pack of rice. Some businessmen have to pay big amount of tax to the Burmese military in order to get permission but they have no problem with KIO.

Restriction

Regarding to the matter of digging the road in the middle of the village, one businessman got permission to mine at the head of village and the other one is on the other side of the village. One businessman has to dig a thousand ft each and two businessmen together will have to dig more than two thousand ft. however, after digging of about 200 ft, the photo of digging of jade mining spread over the social media and the permission to do jade mining was suspended by the No.33 Battalion. Furthermore, a mine washer earning man died from a landslide. In some situation, businessmen have to negotiate with the military strategy post to get permission. The No.33 Battalion has shutdown the mine on 20/9/2022.

Land Issue

Due to many years of jade mining, the land around the village of Tang Gau is left bare and flat. Only catholic church and Baptist church remain on the normal land. Tang Gau village is an area with little flat land and hilly land. it is close to Kansi village. There are farms nearby. Land are usually only for jade mining. There are several Burmese military posts near the village.

The Situation ahead

It is heard that two military division from Nay Pyi Taw are planning to reside to Hpakant. If these two military division will become battalion No.22, businessmen assume that high tension of war will happen and businessmen are reluctant to do business in the area. Some businessmen have suspended their operations. It is reported that all companies will be suspended in December 2022.