By Mon Htaw / Mon News Agency (MNA) | June 07, 2016

Approximately 500 locals from Paung Township, Mon State staged a protest against Long Life Aggregate Mining Co., Ltd, urging it to shut down its mining project, on Sunday morning

[June 5].

The protestors marched from Oukthadar Village, Paung Township, to the mining company’s site demanding an immediate stop to the mining project.

The mining project would lead to the destruction of gardens, farmland, creeks, roads and natural resources as well as block water canals, according to protestors.

“If nothing changes after we protest this time, we will then protest in front of Paung Township Administration Office. At that point, if nothing changes after the protest before the Paung Township Office, we are then prepared to protest a third time before the [Mon] State Office. A mining project like this never benefits the locals. Rather, they are making the locals desperate, dividing them and causing them to fight,” said Ko Zaw Htwe, who led the protest.

Ko Zaw Htwe added that the Long Life Aggregate Mining Co., Ltd started its projects in 2013, in Oukthadar Village, and proceeded its project without consulting with the public in advance. In addition, the company never listened to the wishes of the people but instead continued to conduct its projects.

Using the slogans, “Shut down the mining company for environment preservation, Shut down the mining company to avoid damaging farmland and orchards, Shut down the mining company to avoid damaging natural resources”. “We do not want Long Life Company”. “Stop Long Life Company”. “Stop the mining company to maintain forests”. “Shut down the mining company to avoid losing water resources”, the protestors marched to the company’s location.

“We are protesting to stop the mining project. This is because when they are stone mining, water resources disappear. This causes a water crisis for us. Due to mining, dust and sand run down into our plantations and damage them. This is why we staged the protest,” said Daw Pan Yee, a protestor.

On August 12, 2014, over 250 locals petitioned with their signatures urging the company to stop the mining project. On December 29, 2015, over 800 locals signed up in opposition against the mining project. Additionally, on January 22, 2016, over 1000 locals, with their signatures, sent petitions arguing against the mining company’s actions to respective government departments, according to locals.

With the permission from the government, the Long Life Aggregate Mining Co. Ltd is conducting mining within 225 acres of land in field no. 46, at Kalarma Taung, Paung Township. The project will produce building and road construction stones.

This article originally appeared on Mon News Agency on June 07, 2016.

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