Myanmar: 'Make It Safer': Calls Grow to Reform Myanmar's Deadly Jade Trade

Oct 1, 2020 | Bangkok Post
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Heavy rainfall in July triggered a massive landslide in Hpakant -- the green heart of Myanmar's jade trade in northern Kachin state -- that entombed nearly 300 miners. The July 2 disaster was the worst the country has seen, but fatal landslides in Hpakant are common, especially during the relentless monsoon rains. As the country gears up for its November election, lobby group Global Witness says it now has a chance to "reset" its policies for an industry that continues to fuel decades-long conflicts.