Irrawaddy News reporting on London-based firm Aurasian Minerals Plc withdrawing its three applications for mineral exploration licenses to Burmese mining authorities, less than a year after submitting the applications.
Mark Farmaner, director of the Burma Campaign UK, said that the firm appeared to have sought exploration licenses in Burma without appreciating the implications of the country’s ongoing ethnic conflicts.
“Aurasian should never have put in these applications with the Burmese government. They appear to be in conflict zones and without any consultation with local people,” he told The Irrawaddy.
![People look for precious stones in the mine dump piled by major mining companies at a jade mine in Pharkant township in Myanmar's Kachin state January 11, 2010. Being abundantly rich in mineral resources, Myanmar produced over 30 million kilos of jade during 2008-09 (April/March) fiscal, compared with over 20.23 million kilos a year ago, according to official data. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY ENVIRONMENT IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR28R94](https://burmacampaign.org.uk/media/Aurasian-withdraw.jpg)