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| Burmese troops crack down on mine protest before Aung San Suu Kyi visit | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Security forces have cracked down on protesters occupying a copper mine in north-west Burma, hours before the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was expected to hear their grievances. | Security forces have cracked down on protesters occupying a copper mine in north-west Burma, hours before the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was expected to hear their grievances. |
| Unexplained fires engulfed the protest camps at the Letpadaung mine and dozens of Buddhist monks and villagers were injured, according to several protesters. Those who fled the site emerged with burns and charred clothing on their bodies. | Unexplained fires engulfed the protest camps at the Letpadaung mine and dozens of Buddhist monks and villagers were injured, according to several protesters. Those who fled the site emerged with burns and charred clothing on their bodies. |
| "Around 2.30am police announced they would give us five minutes to leave," said Aung Myint Htway, a peanut farmer whose face and body were covered with black spots where his skin was burned. He said police fired water cannons first and then fired from what he and others called flare guns. | |
| "They fired black balls that exploded into fire sparks. They shot about six times. People ran away and they followed us," he said. | "They fired black balls that exploded into fire sparks. They shot about six times. People ran away and they followed us," he said. |
| This week the government ordered protesters to evacuate the mine by Wednesday or face legal action. The protesters, who had set up six camps at the site, say the mine near the town of Monywa is causing environmental, social and health problems. | This week the government ordered protesters to evacuate the mine by Wednesday or face legal action. The protesters, who had set up six camps at the site, say the mine near the town of Monywa is causing environmental, social and health problems. |
| The protest is the latest example of increased activism by citizens since an elected government took over last year, following almost five decades of repressive military rule. | |
| "This is unacceptable," said Ottama Thara, a 25-year-old monk who was at the protest. "This kind of violence should not happen under a government that says it is committed to democratic reforms." | "This is unacceptable," said Ottama Thara, a 25-year-old monk who was at the protest. "This kind of violence should not happen under a government that says it is committed to democratic reforms." |
| The mine is a joint venture between a Chinese firm and a company controlled by Burma's military. China is a major investor and strategic ally of Burma, and the backing of the military is crucial to government stability. The mine protest was clearly an irritant to Thein Sein's government, which warned it could deter badly needed foreign investment. | The mine is a joint venture between a Chinese firm and a company controlled by Burma's military. China is a major investor and strategic ally of Burma, and the backing of the military is crucial to government stability. The mine protest was clearly an irritant to Thein Sein's government, which warned it could deter badly needed foreign investment. |
| Aung San Suu Kyi is to visit the mine area on Thursday to hear the protesters' grievances, adding to the pressure on the government. Her visit is also bound to draw more attention to the protest, which partly due to its remote location has been largely ignored. | Aung San Suu Kyi is to visit the mine area on Thursday to hear the protesters' grievances, adding to the pressure on the government. Her visit is also bound to draw more attention to the protest, which partly due to its remote location has been largely ignored. |