Local protesters block road to Letpadaung copper mine
The Sagaing Division chief minister will likely visit the controversial Letpadaung copper mine later this week after protesters prevented vehicles from leaving the compound on February 21 and demanded the mine cease operations. “We blocked five trucks carrying copper from leaving the mine,” U Pho La Pyae, a farmer from Moe Gyo Pyin village, told The Irrawaddy. He claimed that the mine’s operators— China’s Wanbao Mining Co.—had not kept promises made to local residents in 2013. A National League for Democracy Sagaing Division parliamentarian met with protesters on Tuesday evening and told them that authorities would negotiate with Wanbao and that the Chief Minister would visit this Saturday, according to protesters.
