Local youths protest against a coal mining company in Thibaw Township in Kyaukme District of Shan State as the coal mining project may lead to the deterioration of forests and trees.
On 1 October, youths in Kyaukme District objected to Ngwe Yi Pale company which is doing the coal mining in Nanma village-tract in Thibaw Township.
Aike Taw whose name is not real who participated in the campaign said: “The coal mining first destroys rivers and creeks. We longer get water for agriculture. We have been facing a water shortage problem for more than three years. It has a huge impact on the livelihood of more than 3,000 locals who mainly rely on agriculture.”
In addition to this, the military council has received a lot of tax fees from the Ngwe Yi Pale Company. Now the authorities have allowed the company to do coal mining on more than 3,000 acres of land in the northern Shan State.
A youth who participated in the protest campaign said: “I want the company to stop the coal mining. I want local authorities to safeguard and preserve the region’s resources. We are doing it with the intention that we can do agriculture well,” he said.
A youth who participated in the campaign said: “The company is raising money for the military council. The company’s permit expired a long time ago. The company resumes the coal mining after the coup in collaboration with the military council. I would like to request the entire Shan State to unitely oppose it as farms, natural resources and forests have been severely damaged in the region.”
The mining company got the green-light for coal mining in Thibaw Township in 2004. Currently, the company continues to do coal mining near Narkwan and Konebaung villages in Thibaw Township, according to locals.
On 25 February, 2021, officials from the company held a meeting with the village heads. At the meeting, they said that the company would continue its operation. Locals are urged not to object to the project, according to locals.
Currently, locals said they frequently face land cracks and landslides due to the expansion of coal mining from Nanma village-tract to Narkone and Konepaung villages in Thibaw Township.
The Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) has also announced that the health, economic and natural resources have been damaged by the expansion of coal mining by the Ngwe Yi Pale company.
Sent by Shan News