Ten villagers in Madae Island of Kyauk Pru in Arakan state have been charged by police as they are suspected of leading the recent demonstration against the Chinese company, CNPC without permission from government authority, said U Tun Kyi who is included among them.
The demonstration broke out on 18 April at Madae Island where a major Shwe Gas project exists. A day after the demonstration, the police officer issued a notice that 10 villagers, who are alleged to have lead the demonstration, are going to be charged for the demonstration.
“6 villagers on the Island went to a police station on 19 April a day after the demonstration. The police officer U Soe Win told them that they were sued with a lawsuit under section 18 that relates to those people who staged the demonstration without permission from authorities,” said U Tun Kyi.
The police also asked the villagers to disclose the financial sources for the demonstration as well as the organizations which were involved behind the demonstration, he said.
However police released them later.
10 villagers who are facing with charges are: U Maung Maung Myint,Ko Myo Naing and Ko Yin Hla from Kyauk Tan village; Ko San Aye, Ko Mg Mg Soe and Ko Aung Myint Soe from Praing Wra ; U Tun Kyi, U Maung Pru Thee and U Tun Khaing Nu from Wra Ma village and U Tin Oo kyaw Pan Htain Say village.
On the Island of Madae, there are four Arakanese villages with over 500 households.
The villages on the Island sought the permission from Kyauk Pru Township police station on April 8 to stage the demonstration against the CNPC Company but the authority denied issuing permission for holding the demonstration on the Island.
After then, the villagers submitted an appeal to Arakan state government seeking permission for the demonstration that time the permission was also denied by authorities.
The villagers, however, staged demonstration on the island on 18 April 2013 with over 500 villagers marching to the CNPC office despite the authority not issuing the permission for the demonstration.
“We had no alternative way to show their frustration with the treatment of them by the shwe gas project to high government authorities so we did the demonstration without permission,” , said an activist Ko Tun Kyi.
The villagers on the island have been unsatisfied with the Shwe Gas project due to many problems they are facing like probation of fishing, confiscation of lands and environmental damage.
The villagers called for 9 points demands to the CNPC Chinese company authority to fulfil them immediately during the demonstration that was staged on 18 April.
