The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) called a meeting with the residents of Mongkung Township, Southern Shan State who were protesting a coal mine project and the mining company involved in the project.
“Lung Sai Luang [a village activist] was called by the RCSS and told to go to an appointed place outside Mongkung Town at 9am on 13 January by Major Saw Sein. We youths are also going. They [The RCSS] told us we will be asked whether we accept or reject the project and we will have to sign [a document indicating our decision],” said a youth from Mongkung Town who was going to attend the meeting with Lung Sai Luang.
As well as Lung Sai Luang Local youths, monks, political party members, and the township Member of Parliament will also attend the meeting.
Sai Leik a Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD) spokesperson said: “We stand with the people in this affair. We have discussed it with Sai Pan, the SNLD People’s Parliament member for Mongkung Township and party members will accompany Lung Sai Luang to join the discussions at the meeting.”
Lung Sai Luang and Mongkung residents discussed the coal mine project at a December meeting and came to the conclusion that it will not benefit the residents and could negatively affect the environment, so they decided to object to the project.
According to what company representatives told residents the Pyae Aung Hein and Hein Myittar companies intend to implement the coalmine project on over 1,000 acres of land in Mongkung Township, Southern Shan State.
They received permission to do this from the Naypyidaw government and the RCSS in 2014.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
