Cursed Treasure

The report examines how the jade industry in northern Myanmar, particularly in Kachin and northern Shan states, is intertwined with armed conflict. It asserts that military elites and their cronies maintain control over high-value mines to secure billions of dollars in profits, which incentivizes continued fighting and undermines the efforts of the civilian-led government to establish peace. The document highlights the displacement of approximately 100,000 people since 2011 and the marginalization of local communities who suffer from environmental degradation and human rights abuses while the wealth is extracted by powerful networks. It concludes that a sustainable peace requires transparent management of natural resources and a fair distribution of jade profits.

• The jade industry is a primary driver of conflict in northern Myanmar, as military elites resist peace and reform to protect their control over a sector worth billions of dollars.
• The jade trade benefits a network of military figures, including the family of former dictator Than Shwe and former northern commander Ohn Myint, as well as military-owned companies.
• Local communities in Kachin State face extreme injustice, as they are excluded from legal mining and suffer from environmental damage and drug abuse while military-backed companies exploit the resources.

APA

Global Witness (n.d.). Cursed Treasure. https://globalwitness.org/my/campaigns/conflict-resources/cursed-treasure-report-my/

Chicago

Global Witness. Cursed Treasure. n.d. https://globalwitness.org/my/campaigns/conflict-resources/cursed-treasure-report-my/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Witness |title=Cursed Treasure |url=https://globalwitness.org/my/campaigns/conflict-resources/cursed-treasure-report-my/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalwitnessndcursed, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{Cursed Treasure}}, institution = {Global Witness}, url = {https://globalwitness.org/my/campaigns/conflict-resources/cursed-treasure-report-my/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }