Senior KIA officer leads gem mining excavation at Lawng Hkang christian cemetery in Hpakant
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Htet Nadi/Thant Zin (NP News) - Dec 8
In Lawng Hkang village, Hpakant Township, Kachin State, a so-called commander of the KIA Brigade (9) is digging up and excavating a Christian cemetery and selling off the remaining land in plots, according to information obtained by The Statesman from residents.
The KIA-led excavation of the Christian cemetery in Lawng Hkang village began last September, and gemstones were extracted at night without anyone knowing.
“The excavation team is led by the KIA. They are digging in conjunction with a team led by the 9th Commander,” said a local man.
A local posted photos and videos of the incident on his Facebook page, urging the KBC (Kachin Baptist Convention) to investigate which organization is responsible.
“They dug up the land from the cemetery and searched the cuttings for gold and gems. The remaining land was divided into plots on which residential areas were built. These plots are worth hundreds of millions of kyats. As it involves work on a Christian cemetery, have the Lawng Hkang church congregations agreed to it or are they just watching because they have no choice? The KBC should investigate this” he added.
Another local said that the KIA is selling off the remaining land in the area where mining is currently taking place, with each plot selling for between 200 and 300 million kyats.
“The KIA is leading the quarrying business. The KIA armed group and businessmen ar working together. They are not avoiding the cemetery. They also dug and sold plots of land at the Lawng Hkang Hospital. They are selling them for around 200 or 300 million kyats. Those are 40x60 feet plots of land,” said another local man.
Currently, the Tatmadaw controls at least nine locations in Hpakant township— Lawng Hkang village tract, and Hmaw Si Sa, Kan Si, Hmaw Pon, San Khar, Hmaw Wan Gyi, Hmaw Wan Lay, Bala Kha, Taung Pyo, and Hmaw Maung Lian.
However, according to the report, the KIA has entered and occupied some locations in the Hpakant township, carrying out excavation activities in various areas including religious sites, cemeteries, hospitals, football fields, and residential wards.
“The Tarmahkan Monastery has disappeared. They don’t even spare religious areas, cemeteries and residential areas. In Hpakant, the KIA has settled its Brigade (9) and Battalion (6). But they are spread all over the Hpakant township. The troops are stationed around Hpakant town and near Lawng Hkang. There are also their troops in Lawng Hkang,” he said.