Local farmers from Ann Township in the Rakhine State will protest in front of the office of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) in Taungzauk Station on April 7.
Ann Township Oil and Gas Pipeline Monitoring Group’s chair U Myo Lwin told Narinjara News that the local farmers from Ann Township are planning the protest due to the companies' failure to pay compensation for farmlands and plantations that have been damaged by the oil and gas pipeline project.
“The protest will be held at Milepost No 81/2 at Taungzauk Station. Around 100 farmers from Ann will stage the protest on April 7,” he said.
The protesters will ride their motorcycles and hold placards and signs along the Yangon-Sittwe Road from Milepost 93 in Zaytaung No 5 Ward in Ann to Milepost No 81/2 where Taungzauk Station is located.
“This protest will be held based on the decision of the recent protest in Ann. We have decided to stage a boycott at the entrance of the oil and gas’s Taungzauk Station if the CNPC and the MOGE fails to fulfill the demands of the local people within ten days after the protest. We are implementing this decision,” U Myo Lwin continued.
The protesters will gather in front of the Land Records office at 8 am on April 7 and arrive at Taungzauk Station at 10 am. They will give a public talk in front of the station’s entrance until 4 pm.
Over 1,000 farmers from nine village groups under Ann Township protested against the CNPC and MOGE on March 22 for their failure to give compensation but the companies still have not fulfill their demands.
