Report on death investigation expected soon
Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will soon release its findings on the death of a victim in a disputed Letpadaungtaung copper mine in Sagaing Region, said Sit Myaing, vice-chairperson of the NHRC.
An investigation team led by the NHRC members Zaw Win, Soe Phone Myint and Dr Nyan Zaw went to the scene to make an investigation into the case on December 30.
“The NHRC will review the case based on its findings and then release its reviews. We are responsible for the release of it. And we will have to submit our report to the upper-level bodies as well as to make it public. The commission is to do it with its own agenda. We have finished our investigation yesterday evening but cannot tell the exact day for the release of our reviews. The commission investigated all possible persons,” said Sit Myaing on January 3.
The clashes began on December 22 when the Myanmar Wanbao Mining Copper Co (MWMCL) tried to erect fence on lands for which protesters claimed they had not received compensation. Daw Khin Win, 56, was shot dead by the police on December 22. The Myanmar Wanbao Mining Copper Co continued its fencing on December 23.
On December 24, the MWMCL has suspended its attempts to fence off lands in the controversial copper mine project after a two-day standoff between local farmers and police.
The protesters demanded answers over the death of Khin Win and condemned the MWMCL.
Activists were arrested for staging a protest near the Chinese embassy. The police filed several lawsuits against them for obstructing the duty of the police, using abusive words and defamation.
More protests have followed ever since, though the company has stopped the fencing activities since December 24. A company representative also said that the fencing would resume so that the production could start in 2016.
On January 5, the civic organsiation Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (MATA) demonstrated in Monywa Township, denouncing the police crackdown on protesters.
“We stand together with the Letpadaungtaung farmers. The owners of our country’s natural resources are the ethnic minorities,” said Tun Myint Aung, member of the MATA.
He continued: “I see natural resources being seized by a small group of people and companies. Ethnic minorities do not benefit from their local resources. What is worse, they have become homeless."
Protestors demanded the truth about the killing of female farmer Khin Win, an end to land confiscation, respect for people and their traditions, protection of the environment and transparency and accountability from companies and government authorities.
As protests continued, the township administrator of Salingyi, Sagaing Region, has authorised the extension of Emergency Act 144 in the Letpadaungtaung copper mine project area to two months from January 1 to the end of the February, sources say.
The law imposes heightened security and restrictions on movement within the certain areas.
The restricted areas are Phaung Katar village, Letpadaungtaung Taunggyi, Taungpalu village, Wat Mey village, a tract of Ywar Shay village, Phaungkar Taung village, Lekekhun Taung village, Settae village, a tract of Phaung Katar village, Zetaw village, Palu Kone village, Shwe Lay village, Letpadaungtaung village and Tone village.
“Act 144 is expired at the end of December, and we extended it,” said Kyaw Thaung, township administrator of Salingyi.
Authorities also extended the law to areas near the Letpadauntaung project, including Sapae Taung and Kyaesin Taung mining projects and Phowin Taung forest reserve.
