Myanmar: Hundreds launch new round of protests against Letpadaung copper mine, claiming it funds junta
"Protesters aim to stop work at Chinese copper mine in Myanmar" 4 June 2024
Hundreds of people in central Myanmar are protesting against operations at the Chinese-backed Letpadaung copper mine, saying revenue from it supports the junta...The Letpadaung mine in the Sagaing region’s Salingyi township has been beset by intermittent protests for more than a decade by villagers angry about being forced off their land, what they see as inadequate compensation and pollution from the mine.
The latest round of protests began on May 7 in a bid to force the mine to cease operations, which they say financially support the junta. “The protest is still going on. We are protesting the Chinese companies that are supporting the junta, which we do not accept,” a member of a Salingyi township strike committee told RFA...The junta had posted troops around the mine so the latest protest is being held some distance from it, another strike leader said...
Nearly 80 Chinese nationals arrived at mine sites in early May to keep the project running, residents said...
RFA telephoned the Wanbao Mining Company and Sagaing region’s junta spokesperson, Nyunt Win Aung, for more information about the situation but neither responded by the time of publication. The Chinese embassy also did not respond to inquiries from RFA...