Myitsone Dam revival in Kachin state reopens colonial-era land and resource conflicts
Original framing: “Myanmar’s China-backed mega dam revival risks Kachin rebel backlash” — South China Morning Post
The Kachin people have long resisted the Myitsone Dam as a violation of their ancestral lands and spiritual heritage. Their knowledge of the region's ecosystems and waterways offers a more sustainable approach to resource management that is ignored in favor of large-scale infrastructure.
The Myitsone Dam controversy is not simply a local conflict but a microcosm of global patterns of resource extraction, geopolitical influence, and Indigenous dispossession.
The Kachin people’s resistance reflects a broader struggle for land sovereignty and environmental justice that resonates across Indigenous communities worldwide. By centering Indigenous knowledge, ecological science, and cross-cultural solidarity, alternative development models can emerge that prioritize sustainability and equity over profit and control. The dam’s revival underscores the urgent need for systemic change in how development is framed, funded, and implemented in the Global South.