NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi addresses a crowd of 3,000 in Monywa on Friday morning, and says she will ask the authorities why violence was used to disperse protesters at the nearby Latpadaung copper mine site on Thursday. (PHOTO: Hein Htet/ Mizzima)

She reportedly blamed a previous lack of transparency as the cause of the incident at Latpadaung Mountain copper mine last week when some 80 persons, including dozens of Buddhist monks, were injured by riot police.

Suu Kyi “stressed the need for public cooperation and the rule of law to get the answer to the issue in the interests of the State” said The New Light of Myanmar (NLM).

Officially known as the Investigation Commission for Latpadaungtaung Copper Mining Project, the report did not establish whether all 16 appointed members of the Commission were in attendance.

Chairperson Suu Kyi declared that the Commission will carry out an investigation into the incident as soon as possible, and that she will take responsibility for conducting an inquiry into “what happened at the camp of protestors and matters related to the members of the Sangha [Buddhist monkhood],” NLM reported.

The report said that members of the Commission will be divided into three groups to conduct investigations into:

(a) whether the copper mining project adheres to international norms and employs appropriate technology to environmental conservation;

(b) the impacts of the copper mining project on social and natural environments;

(c) whether the copper mining project will be profitable for the State, people and future generations.

“Besides, the commission will conduct an investigation into other cases to which it is assigned and will release information on its findings,” NLM said.