Tibetan residents in Markham County, traditionally part of the Kham province in eastern Tibet, have raised alarm over extensive environmental devastation caused by Chinese government-sanctioned mining operations, as reported by Radio Free Asia.
Since August 7, 2020, aggressive mining in Tsonga Township’s mountainous regions has led to severe ecological deterioration, triggering floods, landslides, rampant deforestation, and soil degradation. Livestock displacement and agricultural barrenness have further jeopardized local livelihoods, threatening the very survival of approximately 1,730 residents who depend on farming and herding.
Local Tibetans have repeatedly implored authorities to halt these destructive activities. However, their appeals have been met with dismissal, as officials cite government permits and state land ownership, effectively sidelining local voices and stripping residents of their rights to land management.
Although mining briefly paused earlier this month, operations swiftly resumed, prompting further community meetings and urgent pleas to local officials. Instead of assistance, Tibetans received threats of arrest for opposing the extraction projects.
Allegations persist that Markham County officials are complicit with Chinese mining enterprises, actively ignoring official complaints regarding environmental and economic devastation. Community elders recently assembled at government offices, emotionally begging for intervention but were met with indifference and silence from authorities.
A video capturing the scale of destruction and residents’ desperate cries for help emerged on social media but was rapidly removed by Chinese censors. The footage highlighted the stark realities faced by locals, including reports of 22 livestock deaths attributed to intensifying floods, and vast tracts of farmland obliterated by mudslides.
The mining activities have been accused of bypassing environmental regulations through corrupt dealings between Chinese business interests and local leadership. Local Tibetans face fines as high as 500 yuan for cutting down a single tree, yet large-scale deforestation tied to mining continues unabated.
Frustration among residents grows as local officials appear more invested in business profits than community welfare, leaving Tibetans feeling neglected, isolated, and powerless against an escalating ecological and economic crisis.
