TNLA Invites Investment in Ruby and Mineral Towns Amid Myanmar Junta Onslaught

缅媒：在缅甸军政府的冲击下，TNLA邀请投资红宝石和矿产城镇

作者：伊洛瓦底江         来源：伊洛瓦底江

Men work at a gem mine in Mogoke in 2015. / The Irrawaddy

2015年，男人们在抹谷的一个宝石矿工作。/伊洛瓦底江

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) is actively courting domestic and foreign investment in the Ta’ang (Palaung) region it controls, despite acknowledging challenges posed by the Myanmar junta’s escalating intensified airstrikes and ground offensives.

尽管承认缅甸军政府不断升级的空袭和地面攻势构成了挑战，但德昂民族解放军（TNLA）仍在其控制的崩龙（Palaung）地区积极争取国内外投资。

“We welcome all mutually beneficial investments,” the TNLA’s Colonel Tar Pan Hla told a press conference on July 5. “Whether they are Chinese entrepreneurs, local business owners, or investors from other regions – we welcome all who wish to invest. We offer them protection and support. We invite them to come and invest.”

“我们欢迎所有互利的投资，”TNLA上校Tar Pan Hla在7月5日的新闻发布会上说。“无论是中国企业家、当地企业主，还是来自其他地区的投资者，我们都欢迎所有希望投资的人。我们为他们提供保护和支持。我们邀请他们来投资。”

The TNLA, part of the Brotherhood Alliance, seized around a dozen towns in Shan State and Mandalay Region during Operation 1027.

TNLA是三兄弟联盟的一员，在1027行动中占领了掸邦和曼德勒地区的十几个城镇。

Among them were Mogoke, a world-renowned source of high-value rubies and other precious gems; Namtu, whose Bawdwin mine is rich in zinc, lead, silver and copper deposits; Mongngawt and Namhkan, key gold and silica mining hubs; Namhsan, a center of tea production.

其中包括世界知名的高价值红宝石和其他珍贵宝石产地抹谷；南渡的鲍德温矿（Bawdwin）富含锌、铅、银和铜矿；抹谷和南坎是主要的黄金和硅矿开采中心；南散，茶叶生产中心。

Several other TNLA-controlled towns lie on the key border trade route with China.

tnla控制的其他几个城镇位于与中国的关键边境贸易路线上。

The ethnic army and its political wing, the Palaung State Liberation Front, have installed administrations and are managing economic activities, including mining, across these areas.

少数民族军队及其政治派别崩龙邦解放阵线在这些地区设立了行政机构，并正在管理包括采矿在内的经济活动。

Houses destroyed by a junta bombing raid in Kyaukme town on July 8.

7月8日，军政府在皎梅镇的轰炸袭击中摧毁了房屋。

However, the investment pitch comes amid ongoing heavy fighting.

然而，这一投资计划是在激烈的竞争中进行的。

The regime has launched a major ground offensive to retake Nawnghkio town. It is also conducting nearly daily airstrikes on TNLA territory after the ethnic army rejected demands to withdraw from five key towns on the China-Myanmar trade route – Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Mogoke and Momeik – during China-brokered peace talks in April.

政府军发动了大规模地面进攻，想夺回瑙丘镇。在4月份中国斡旋的和平谈判中，少数民族军队拒绝了从中缅贸易路线上的五个重镇（瑙丘, 皎梅, 昔卜， 抹谷和孟密）撤军的要求，此后，军政府几乎每天都对TNLA的领土进行空袭。

The Bawdwin operation and some gold mines have been temporarily closed due to junta airstrikes, but gems mining continues in Mogoke, said TNLA spokesperson Lway Yay Oo.

TNLA发言人Lway Yay Oo说，由于军政府的空袭，Bawdwin矿区和一些金矿暂时关闭，但抹谷的宝石开采仍在继续。

“We have permitted large-scale mining in Mogoke, where each mine covers around one acre. We only have four or five outside investors operating in Mogoke,” she said.

“我们已经允许在抹谷进行大规模采矿，每个矿山占地约一英亩。我们只有四五个外部投资者在抹谷经营，”她说。

Lway Yay Oo denied reports that the United Wa State Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army – TNLA allies – are involved in mining in Mogoke.

Lway Yay Oo否认了有关佤邦联合军和缅甸民族民主同盟军（TNLA的盟友）参与在抹谷采矿的报道。

Investment levels remain very low due to security concerns and instability, she added.

她补充说，由于安全问题和不稳定因素，投资水平仍然很低。

Local sources in Mogoke allege TNLA leaders and associates are conducting excessive, environmentally damaging gem mining operations, including at the main golf course.

抹谷当地的消息来源称，TNLA的领导人和同事正在进行过度地破坏环境的宝石开采作业，包括在主要的高尔夫球场。

The TNLA said it has formed a gem mining management committee to regulate and tax business owners.

TNLA表示，它已经成立了一个宝石开采管理委员会，对企业主进行监管和征税。

Prior to the TNLA takeover, at least 17 Mogoke gem mines were operated by companies linked to the junta, according to a 2021 report by Global Witness.

根据全球见证2021年的一份报告，在TNLA入驻之前，至少有17个抹谷宝石矿由与军政府有关的公司经营。

The report estimated that between 2014 and 2017, the legal trade in Mogoke gems was worth US$ 346-415 million annually, with illicit trade reaching up to US$2.07 billion per year.

该报告估计，在2014年至2017年期间，抹谷宝石的合法贸易每年价值3.46亿至4.15亿美元，非法贸易每年高达20.7亿美元。

Homes damaged by the July 8 airstrikes on Kyaukme.

在7月8日对皎梅的空袭中受损的房屋。

Lway Yay Oo said gold mining in Mongngawt and silica mining in Namhkan have been suspended due to environmental concerns following local complaints. She added that the TNLA would respond to any complaints in other areas by conducting inspections.

Lway Yay Oo说，由于当地居民抱怨环境问题，抹谷的金矿开采和南坎的硅矿开采已经暂停。她补充说，TNLA将对其他地区的任何投诉作出反应，进行视察。

She also acknowledged that ongoing regime air attacks were hampering the armed group’s efforts to attract investments.

她还承认，军政权持续不断的空袭阻碍了该武装组织吸引投资的努力。

“It’s difficult for us to provide security due to the junta’s airstrikes,” she said.

“由于军政府的空袭，我们很难提供安全保障，”她说。

Residents have voiced doubts about the viability of investment under current conditions. “There’s too much instability, and wealthy people are steering clear of the town. People with money are holding onto their cash tightly,” said a woman from Kyaukme.

居民们对目前条件下投资的可行性表示怀疑。“这里太不稳定了，富人都在远离这座城市。有钱的人都把钱攥得很紧，”皎梅的一名妇女说。

Junta airstrikes killed four civilians and injured 12 others in Mogoke and Kyaukme towns on Friday, according to the TNLA.

据TNLA报道，军政府周五在抹谷和皎梅镇发动空袭，造成4名平民死亡，12人受伤。

Meanwhile, junta troops have advanced to within 5 kilometers of TNLA-held Nawnghkio. Locals have also reported a build-up of junta forces in Lashio, potentially presaging further assaults on TNLA territory. The regime recaptured Lashio, capital of northern Shan State, in April after the MNDAA retreated under pressure from China.

与此同时，军政府部队已经推进到距离tnla控制的瑙丘镇不到5公里的地方。当地人也报告说，军政府在腊戍集结了军队，这可能预示着对TNLA领土的进一步攻击。今年4月，在果敢同盟军迫于中国的压力撤退后，缅甸政府重新夺回了北部掸邦首府腊戍。

作者：伊洛瓦底江         来源：伊洛瓦底江