Suu Kyi faces public confrontation as she protects copper mine project

Photo: Irrawaddy News

Hundreds of furious protesters confronted democratic leader and icon Aung San Suu Kyi as she tries to enlighten the result of a parliamentary inquiry in the controversial Letpadaung copper mine project, Irrawaddy News reported.

Around 500 demonstrators surrounded the motorcade of Suu Kyi as she was travelling to Ton Village near the project site in north western Burma.

They were angry with the findings stating that the copper mine project could continue even if there are issues to be settled on environmental matters and sentiments of local people against the project. With regards on the crackdown incident last November 29 that resulted to 100 people who were injured, the inquiry did not mention any people responsible for that incident.

Last Wednesday, Suu Kyi were in three nearby villages rendering a speech and addressed the people that instead of protesting about the project it is better if they just take the payment for their lands that were taken in exchange for the project.

With the aid of police authorities escorting her, she was able to deliver her speech even if she was already surrounded by the enraged rallyists, the report said.

Moreover she said that all she wanted is for the benefit of the people even if the Letpadaung Mountain is gone.

Suu Kyi did her part to convey the local people for almost three hours but all her explanations fell on deaf ears. People insisted to shutdown the copper mine permanently.

Thaung Htike of the People’s Support Service, an activist group revealed that local people did not approved of the commission findings saying that it is against the will of the people.

Her motorcade also visited a nearby village Se Te but unfortunately it was blocked again by the people. Finally, Suu Kyi was allowed into their village but other members of her commission who was with her were not accepted.

One of Suu Kyi’s bodyguard disclosed that she was saddened with the way the people expressed their reactions and sentiments but she will not stop on convincing the people until they get the best result, news report from Irrawaddy said.