A year into its term, Myanmar’s civilian-led government faces stiff challenges. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy swept to power on a wave of opposition to decades of military junta rule, but serious obstacles remain to achieving the democracy, development and peace Myanmar’s people voted for. One critical block to progress is the continued grip of dictatorship era elites on the country’s jade riches.
The jade mines of Myanmar’s Kachin State, the most valuable on the planet, are still kept off-limits to international media and observers. A new documentary short by Global Witness offers a glimpse into an area devastated by greedy exploitation, and interviews with those affected by deadly ethnic conflict which this multi-billion dollar industry helps to incentivise and fuel.
Please join Juman Kubba, Global Witness’ Senior Campaigner in Myanmar, for a screening of our documentary short - ‘Jade and the Generals’ - alongside a discussion on the new government’s attempts to clean up the ‘stone of heaven’ and the role the UK could play in supporting efforts to turn Myanmar’s jade billions into a positive force for the country.
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