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| Burmese police break up copper mine protest | Burmese police break up copper mine protest |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police in Burma have used water cannon to break up a protest against the expansion of a copper mine near the central town of Monywa, activists say. | Police in Burma have used water cannon to break up a protest against the expansion of a copper mine near the central town of Monywa, activists say. |
| Protesters said dozens of people were injured and their camps set on fire. | Protesters said dozens of people were injured and their camps set on fire. |
| Local farmers, monks and activists have been protesting against what they say are forced evictions to allow for the mine to be enlarged. | Local farmers, monks and activists have been protesting against what they say are forced evictions to allow for the mine to be enlarged. |
| The mine, Burma's largest, is jointly owned by the Burmese military and Chinese arms manufacturer Norinco. | The mine, Burma's largest, is jointly owned by the Burmese military and Chinese arms manufacturer Norinco. |
| Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi had been expected to visit the protest site on Thursday to hear the protesters' grievances. | Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi had been expected to visit the protest site on Thursday to hear the protesters' grievances. |
| When the government issued its ultimatum to the farmers and activists camped outside the Monywa copper mine, no one could have guessed what would happen next. The rules have changed in post-military Burma, but no one is quite sure what they are. | |
| When I was there last Saturday the police guarding the mine entrance were shocked to see a solitary monk walking past the gate and its intimidating "Restricted Area" sign, towards them. | |
| Eventually, the police relented and allowed a group of nuns to enter the site. It seemed then that we were witnessing a new era in Burma, one where violent repression is no longer an option for the security forces. | |
| Today we saw something of the old Burma, in the rough way the police broke up the farmers' sit-in, using water cannon and something else that seems to have set the protest camps alight. | |
| The government says it is still committed to a full inquiry into the farmers' complaint, that they were forced to accept the deal with the mining company under which they gave up their land for modest financial compensation and new, but very basic housing. | |
| Laws on public protests in Burma have been relaxed amid a series of democratic reforms. | Laws on public protests in Burma have been relaxed amid a series of democratic reforms. |
| But this week the government gave the protesters an ultimatum to leave the site. | But this week the government gave the protesters an ultimatum to leave the site. |
| Activists said police had arrived at the camp in the early hours of Thursday, as they were sleeping. | Activists said police had arrived at the camp in the early hours of Thursday, as they were sleeping. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head, who recently visited the mine, says this is now being seen as a test case for how Burma's new government will handle growing protests around the country over land grabs that took place under military rule. | The BBC's Jonathan Head, who recently visited the mine, says this is now being seen as a test case for how Burma's new government will handle growing protests around the country over land grabs that took place under military rule. |
| The Burmese parliament is now asserting itself, and there will surely be aspiring politicians there who will see backing the farmers' grievances against a Chinese- and military-backed mine as a vote-winner, our correspondent says. | |
| The farmers started their protest in June, saying they were forced to accept a deal two years ago under which they gave up their land in return for new housing and financial compensation. | The farmers started their protest in June, saying they were forced to accept a deal two years ago under which they gave up their land in return for new housing and financial compensation. |
| Are you in Burma? Are you taking part in the protests? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in Burma? Are you taking part in the protests? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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