KAGU comprises of the Karen National Union (KNU), Democratic Union Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the KNU/KNLA Peace Council, and the Border Guard Front (BGF).

Gen. Saw Jonny, commander of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the military wing of the KNU, told local residents it was suspended because they respected the peoples’ wishes.

“The KNU has principles and policies concerning the cement factory project. If I were to speak based on our policy, it is too early [to carry out the project]. We will only carry it out if we receive public support after carrying out political dialogue and [the Karen State] becomes peaceful and stabilized. We won’t carry it out if the public doesn’t support it. We won’t do anything that will make the public, who are our parents, suffer,” said General Saw Jonny.

About 3,000 people that included representatives from KAGU, Buddhist monks, local artists, and residents from 17 villages in Mi Kayin village tract attended the half-day meeting.

A Phi Sein, an elderly woman from Kawphai village present at the meeting, told KIC: “If the cement factory is built, the guests will enter and the hosts will have to leave.” The elder said they are dependent on the mountain for their livelihood and without they have nothing.

Col. Saw Chit Thu, BGF central advisory and management member, said they will do as the people want, but pointed out that five percent of the expected revenue from the cement factory was initially earmarked for them.

Various attempts to build Mi Kayin Cement Factory have been made by Myanmar Cement and Mineral Production Company and Myanmar Ji Dong Cement Company Ltd from 2013 to 2014 but were prevented by locals.

Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI Staff