A group of protesters gathered in front of Yangon City Hall yesterday to demand justice for the victims of police violence at the site of the Letpadaung copper mine in Sagaing Region four years ago.
At a protest on November 29, 2012, against Myanmar Wanbao Mining Copper Ltd – a Chinese company – and its local partner Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd, Myanmar police used white phosphorous gas against the protesters, who claim to this day that their land was seized illegally to make way for the mine. Dozens of peaceful protesters suffered severe chemical burns.
The use of incendiary white phosphorous weapons against civilians is prohibited under the 1980 Geneva Convention. Neither Myanmar authorities nor the Wanbao company, whose employees are reported to have taken part in the crackdown against the protesters, have taken responsibility for the human rights abuses.
Yesterday’s protest has also demanded justice for Daw Khin Win, who was shot in the head on December 22, 2014, at a confrontation between protestors and police at the copper mine.
Wai Lu, an activist who participated in yesterday’s protest, said: “We want legal action against the ones who committed this. After four years, their physical injuries have healed, but there are mental side effects from the attack.”
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, then opposition leader, was appointed to lead an investigation commission after the events of November 2012. Its report in 2013 said the Wanbao company had failed to conduct environmental and social impact assessments, but advised against the cancellation of the mine project in order to maintain Myanmar’s business relationship with China.
