Case Studies

A six-month investigation by Global Witness has revealed that the illegal mining of heavy rare earth minerals in Myanmar has led to severe human rights abuses and environmental devastation. Rare earth minerals have started to be predominantly sourced from Myanmar following the closure of many Chinese mines due to environmental concerns. These mining operations are largely illegal and occur in the semi-autonomous Kachin State, controlled by militias with ties to the Myanmar military junta. This situation has led to severe human rights abuses. Employees work in conditions of exploitation, with local workers, including children, employed in hazardous conditions without proper permits or legal protections. In addition, employees face discrimination, with Chinese workers occupying skilled positions, while Burmese workers do manual labour. Locals also face threats and violence from militia groups if they resist giving up their land for mining. Illegal mining in Myanmar also leads to environmental degradation, as the mining techniques used have poisoned local water sources and caused deforestation. Communities are losing access to clean drinking water, and their agricultural products are contaminated, causing illness. This has created a situation of significant displacement of local populations.  

Keywords: South East Asia & Pacific, Myanmar, minerals, primary production, illegal mining, human rights violations, labour rights violations, environmental crime

Sources:  https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/natural-resource-governance/myanmars-poisoned-mountains/ 

https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/natural-resource-governance/addressing-risks-supply-chain-heavy-rare-earth-minerals-illicit-mining-myanmar/   

According to a report by Global Witness, the military junta in Myanmar heavily relies on the country’s gemstone industry for funding, including through rubies, sapphires, and other coloured stones. The military’s exploitation of these minerals is illegal, since all mining licences expired in 2020. Despite this, mining has surged since the coup in 2021, with tens of thousands of informal miners exploited by the military and armed groups. In addition, the military systematically collects bribes from informal miners in key extraction areas. The complex supply chains obscure the origins of the gemstones, making it difficult for buyers to monitor ethical sourcing. Consequently, multinational jewelers may be exposed to rubies that are linked to the funding military abuses; only four of over 30 allegedly implicated companies have publicly declared that they have stopped sourcing from Myanmar.  

Keywords: South East Asia & Pacific, Myanmar, minerals, primary production, illegal mining, human rights violations, labour rights violations, environmental crime

Sources:  https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/natural-resource-governance/conflict-rubies-how-luxury-jewellers-risk-funding-military-abuses-myanmar/ 

A report by the American Bar Association analyses the recent closure of the Cobre Panamá copper mine in Panama. Following the Supreme Court of Panama's ruling that the multi-year contract with First Quantum was unconstitutional, the government announced its plan for the mine's immediate and definitive closure. Several issues were revealed regarding this contract, including having been negotiated and signed without adequate transparency and without proper public consultation. There were significant environmental concerns related to the operations of the Cobre Panamá mine, and the contract did not include measures needed to mitigate this, leading to such legal challenges. Furthermore, the working conditions at the Cobre Panamá mine were reportedly poor, with issues such as anti-union policies, low wages, and unsafe working conditions being rampant. This led the contract to be highly criticised for its enabling of labour rights violations. The mining industry is significant for Panama's economy, contributing 7% to its GDP and accounting for 1% of global copper output. However, the closure aims to address the outdated Mineral Resources Codes, inadequate inspections, and poor labour conditions highlighted in the 2020 IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment. The mine's closure will result in approximately 40,000 job losses, and the government has yet to announce measures to mitigate this unemployment. 

Keywords: Latin America, Panama, minerals, copper, primary production, human rights violations

Sources:  https://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/rule_of_law/blog/roli-panama-mine-closure-labor-rights-0224/