Catholic activist: the violence against the monks is the "true face" of the Burmese change
Yangon (AsiaNews) - Police raids against monks and farmers, the leaders of a protest against the Monywa mine, show the "true face" of the Myanmar government. So told AsiaNews the activist Khon Ja, a member of the Kachin Peace Network movement, engaged in the pacifying the areas of ethnic conflict. The event has also seen the intervention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who requested an official apology for the religious injured by the police. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has also offered to mediate to achieve a common solution and prevent further violence. On 29 November, the riot police intervened to quell the protests, injuring a number of farmers and monks, some of whom reported burns on their skin, due to a "mysterious gas" (see AsiaNews 11/29/2012 Riot Police disperse protest against Sino-Burmese mine).
The copper mine is located not far from the town of Monywa, Sagaing region, in the center of Myanmar, and is the largest in the country. The quarry is owned by Myanmar Wanabo Copper Mining - part of the giant Chinese state-owned China North Industries Corp. (Norinco) - and operates in partnership with the Burmese Ministry of Mines and a company close to the military leadership. Since last June, it has been the scene of citizens' protests, over unresolved conflicts related to environmental pollution, forced seizure of land, compensation and resettlement of the displaced.
Activists say there are at least a hundred injured, in the harshest intervention carried out by the Burmese authorities since the rise to power of President Thein Sein, a former leader of the military junta, now a promoter of the process of reforms in the country. The images of injured monks in the hospital (as had already happened in the past, under the regime) have sparked anger in the population and increased anti-Chinese resentment. Aung San Suu Kyi attempted to mediate with the people and has called for the creation "as soon as possible" of a parliamentary committee - also composed of citizens - to reach a solution.
The crisis of the last few days, Khon Ja told AsiaNews, shows the "true face" of the Government of Myanmar, despite the announcements of reforms and the government's international legitimacy. The Catholic activist spoke of a "lack of transparency and information" regarding the economic projects and investments in the energy sector, including the Monywa mine.
He recalls the very real risk of "damage to health" and the lack of social policies and protection for citizens affected by the mega industrial projects and by development, especially, he adds, in the most remote and isolated parts of the country, while in the capital Naypyidaw, in Yangon and Mandalay, the situation is better. Finally, the Catholic leader condemned the attack on Buddhist monks, the "guardians" of Myanmar's tradition and history, as occurred "during the 1988 riots and the Saffron Revolution in 2007"; the monks are defenders of the rights and interests of the population.
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