Executive Summary
The lack of transparency and accountability in project decisions and the negative impacts of the rare earth (REE) extraction in other parts of Kachin have created a sense of injustice and mass participation in the protest against the REE project plan in Mansi Township in Kachin State in late 2022 and early 2023. The community raised their unanimous and collective voices against the REE plan pushed ahead by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and its armed wing, Kachin Independence Army (KIA). After six months of struggle, they got the agreement of KIO/KIA authorities to halt the project plan in April 2023. However, given the complexities of the global context in the transition to green technology and its reliance on a powerful neighboring country, China, challenges remain to stop the unregulated and exploitative manner of REE extraction. Given that this movement of the Kachin community in the post-coup context is significant, a field study was conducted between November and December 2023 to January and February 2024 to explore the organizing tactics and strategies of the local Kachin community in Mansi township. The movement framed the message as a faith-based obligation for the authorities to adhere to Christian values and the need to protect the land of God. It also ensures that the Kachin community exclusively owns the movement in fighting against only the REE project, and their political support for KIO/KIA remains affirmed. Visibility and publicity of the local communities’ struggle earned support from other Kachin communities inside and outside the country. It has leveraged their pressure on the authorities, which led to the suspension of the project.