About 500 local residents protesting against rock quarrying near Oke Tar Dar Village in Paung Township, Mon State by the Long Life Aggregate Mining Company Limited marched to the company’s offices on 5 June.
The protesters claim that the quarrying has been destroying the villagers’ resources by, amongst other things, damaging plantations, farmlands, streams and roads and blocking drains.
The protest leader, Ko Zaw Htwe said: “If there is no change after we hold the first protest we will hold a second protest in front of Paung Township Office. If there is no change after we hold a protest in Paung Township we plan to hold a third protest in front of the [Mon] State Office. This rock quarrying is of no benefit to local residents. It is causing friction between villagers.”
He also said that Long Life Aggregate Mining started quarrying in Oke Ta Dar Village in 2013, but that they never consulted with the villagers or asked for their opinions before starting to quarry.
During the protest protesters shouted slogans calling for the closure of the quarry to protect the natural environment, natural resources, water resources, farmlands and plantations.
Daw Pann Yi, one of the protestors said: “We are protesting to stop the rock quarrying because water resources have been damaged and drinking water may become scarce. Sand running off from the mountain has damaged plantations. That’s why we are protesting.”
Local residents submitted a petition of over 2,500 signatures on 12 August 2014, a petition of over 800 signatures on 29 December 2015, and a petition of over 1,000 signatures on 22 January 2016 to governmental departments.
Long Life Aggregate Mining obtained permission from the authorities to quarry in a 225 acre site in the Kalma Mountain Forest Reserve in Paung Township to produce rock and gravel for construction.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
