Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said she will ask the authorities why peaceful protesters were driven violently from the Monywa copper mine site.
The National League for Democracy (NLD) leader called for calm on Friday morning as she delivered a 30-minute speech to more than 3,000 people on the bank of Chindwin River near Monywa in Sagaing Division.
According to a Mizzima correspondent in Monywa, a member of the audience called to Suu Kyi and asked why the copper mine project is under the control of the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (UMEHL) when Burma has a Ministry of Mining.
Suu Kyi responded that she would take that question and other concerns to the authorities.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner reminded the crowd that Burma must maintain friendly relations with neighboring countries—presumably a reference to China whose Wanbao Company is UMEHL’s partner in the copper mining project.
Suu Kyi made the comments after meeting on Thursday evening with victims of riot police violence who were being treated for burns and injuries at Monywa General Hospital.
