In southern Banmauk Township, an area controlled by the resistance-run National Unity Government (NUG) in northern Sagaing Region, locals staged a protest on the morning of February 9, demanding the return of gold mining rights to residents and displaced people.

About 500 people gathered at the protest, calling for the reinstatement of small-scale gold mining rights.

Protesters chanted demands for local communities to regain their gold mining rights, reopen closed mining sites, and establish clear gold mining policies for residents and displaced individuals.

Locals also demanded the dismissal of certain members of the NUG’s Union Special Resources Management from their posts.

The group directly manages resources in Bhamo Township and prohibits locals from mining gold.

U Arkar, the group’s Banmauk Township office chief, was detained by the NUG last year on corruption allegations.

Reports say he was arrested for allegedly controlling illegal gold mining sites and embezzling billions of MMK along with gold bars.

Southern Banmauk Township, a gold-rich area, has been under NUG control since 2022.

Banmauk Town, the township’s administrative center, was under NUG control for about four months before being retaken by the junta-aligned Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) on February 8.