Myanmar Spring Chronicle – Scenes from June 2
(MoeMaKa), June 3, 2026
The Losses of the Past Five Years and Myanmar’s Future
Among the many losses and damages suffered over the past five years, the most visible have been the loss of human lives, injuries, permanent disabilities, and the destruction of homes, towns, and villages.
Organizations have been monitoring, documenting, and publishing statistics on casualties, destroyed homes, and property losses suffered by revolutionary forces through news reports and social media platforms. Likewise, there are also efforts to record and track casualties on both sides of the conflict.
It would not be inaccurate to say that losses are being analyzed and documented in various categories—individual losses, destruction by town or village, and damages affecting different ethnic groups and regions.
Because these incidents and damages are reported daily in the news and across social media, today I would like to draw attention to some losses that receive far less public notice.
These less-discussed losses include the poisoning and degradation of rivers, the destruction of forests, environmental damage, and the severe impact on the education of future generations.
Regarding the poisoning of rivers, reports concerning contamination of the Salween River have appeared in the news over recent months and years. In some sections of the river, particularly those connected to areas near Thailand, the pollution has affected not only people in Myanmar but also residents of neighboring countries. While warnings and concerns have appeared in the media abroad, detailed studies and public warnings about the impacts on communities inside Myanmar remain limited.
The dangers posed by weapons in war are obvious and visible. However, far less attention is paid to illnesses and deaths caused by consuming contaminated water or fish and other aquatic life from polluted rivers. River pollution is not limited to the Salween River; it is also occurring in the Chindwin River, the Ayeyarwady River, and many streams that flow into them. Environmental destruction caused by gold mining operations—such as those along the Uru Creek and in the upper reaches of the Chindwin River—is often overshadowed by news of armed conflict.
The poisoning and degradation of rivers are largely driven by gold mining and mineral extraction. Even if these activities were halted immediately, it would take many years for these waterways to recover to their original condition. Moreover, much of the revenue generated from current resource extraction is being used to finance armed conflict rather than benefiting local communities.
In some regions, forests are disappearing rapidly not because of mining but because of charcoal production and logging. Reports indicate that such destruction is widespread in northern Shan State and on islands with mangrove forests in Tanintharyi Region. Much of the charcoal produced from these forests is believed to be exported to neighboring countries.
The effects of deforestation are already becoming evident. Rising temperatures and the drying up of water sources are among the immediate consequences. People are increasingly experiencing extreme heat and frequent flooding whenever heavy rains occur. Yet these developments struggle to attract public attention amid the daily flood of conflict-related news.
Deforestation, declining water resources, and environmental contamination may take only a few years to occur, but restoring them often requires decades of effort. Some forms of environmental damage may even be irreversible.
It is also disheartening to observe that there are currently few vigorous public campaigns warning about the harmful consequences of gold mines, gold dredging operations, rare-earth extraction, logging, and similar activities.
The consequences of these damages will be faced not only by future generations but increasingly by the current generation as well.
Some may argue that winning the war is the most urgent priority. Others may say that other problems can be addressed after victory is achieved.
However, environmental contamination and destruction require little time to occur, while restoration may take decades—or even longer. These are issues that affect everyone who lives on this land and within this environment. For that reason, it is crucial that we recognize their importance and treat them with the urgency they deserve.