14 November 2013 Letpadaung Copper Mine Conflict: Police Shoot into a Crowd of Farmers At least a dozen were injured

after anti-riot police fired into a crowd of farmers near South Moe Gyo Byin village in Monywa district local activists and media report. South Moe Gyo Byin village is one of a few villages in the immediate vicinity of Letpadaung copper mine, a jointventure between the Burmese military-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. and Wanbao Mining, a subsidiary of North China Industries. There were two separate incidents of shooting in the area today. The first incident occurred when villagers demanded police to open a roadblock near South Moe Gyo Byin village as they needed to go to work. After an intensified stand-off with farmers Police eventually fired live rounds straight into the crowd injuring a dozen of villagers. The second incident occurred when armed squad with full riot-gear attempted to raid Middle Moe Gyo Byin village around 1:00 am on 15 November 2013. Reportedly, a 14 year old boy was shot in the chest. Yet, it is not known the exact number of casualities. Approximately 400 anti-riot police armed with full riot-gear and machine guns, involved in both incidents. These incidents are the latest of numerous sufferings that local farmers have suffered for a few years due to the expansion of copper mine. The European Unions program of training in riot control measures started last week in Rangoon. The program will last for more than a year and include human rights education. It is very depressing that police and other members of state security forces continue to practice shoot to kill policy whenever they deal with popular dissent. Furthermore, todays events in Letpadaung Hill area point out that Burmese police and military personnel will continue practicing heavyhanded tactics of crowd control regardless of whether they are trained in human rights norms and perspectives by international experts and organisations. We condemn in the strongest terms the violent dispersal and the shooting of police at Moe Gyo Byin village today. We call for the EU and all other countries that are strengthening relationships with Burma to re-consider their approach towards the government of President Thein Sein given the situation on the ground.
Burma Independence Advocates Building 3, Chiswick Park 566, Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London, W4 5YA