The construction for the mine has recently started in Lapadaung Mountains, near Monywa, in Upper Burma. The investors - a joint venture between China’s Wan Bao Company and military-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEHL) - have been accused of destroying crop fields and Buddhist shrines, polluting clean water sources, and seizing 3,150 hectares of land from the surrounding villages.

“Even though U Aung Min (the President’s Office Minister) came here to negotiate with us, we will not end our demonstration until the project stops. Also, local residents and environmental activists are protesting at the Lelti Sayadaw Buddhist Building in Kyawyar Village, five miles from the main protest camp, and they too are determined to keep protesting until the project stops,” said Ko Thaung Htaik, a student at the University of Myanmar.

Aung Min met with protesters to collect information on Nov.23. He was accompanied by U Thein Htaik from the Sagaing Division Ministry of Mines and Presidential Advisor U Hla Maung Shwe. The discussion lasted about two-hours.

Aung Min told the protesters he will report back to Burma’s President Thein Sein but cautioned that he cannot put an immediate end to the project.

U Hla Maung Shwe said the situation will be evaluated based on the information collected but they “haven’t made a definite decision yet”.

Protesters have been blocking trucks from entering the road that leads to the mine site where construction is already underway. More than 2000 demonstrators, including monks, shouted slogans like: “Abolish the copper mining project in Lapadaung; Stop companies from controlling Myanmar and Stop the Myanmar-Wanbao Mining Company.

Six temporary protest camps have been erected.