Myanmar warns against instigation over copper mine project

Myanmar authorities have warned against instigation over a copper mine project with foreign investment at Monywa in Sagaing region, urging the people to be on the alert to prevent undesirable incidents.

"The Latpadaung Copper Mine project is a foreign invested one and the project benefits the state, the local people and future generations," the Committee for Implementing Latpadaung Copper Mine Investigation Report said in a statement published Tuesday,

"While the majority of the local people in the project area are hoping to launch the production of the copper mine project as soon as possible and to get job opportunities, a handful of people who are on utter destructive course with the project, have created hindrance to systematic implementation of the project due to instigators," Xinhua quoted the statement as saying.

On launching production, a further 1,900 job opportunities will be created for local people, according to the statement.

On Dec 22last year, the Myanmar Wanbao company announced commencement of construction of Letpadaung copper project which had been delayed for two years under the direction of the government to extend its working area in the project site as required by the Myanmar Investment Commission.

However, the work of erecting a fence in the project area was hindered by dozens of villagers several times which resulted in clashes between the villagers and the police, in which one woman villager was killed and 20 others, including 11 police officers and nine villagers, were injured.

Referring to the incident, the Chinese embassy in Myanmar has expressed deep sorrow, saying that it was an unfortunate event and hoping it could be handled appropriately.

Noting that the Letpadaung mining project was an important joint project between China and Myanmar, the embassy in a statement voiced support for the project to be implemented in a peaceful and secure manner, while opposing any kind of violence.

The statement expressed China's willingness to work together with the Myanmar side to promote the economic and social development as well as contribute to the welfare of both countries and peoples.

The construction work was first resumed in October 2013 under a revised contract signed in July that year by the state-owned Myanmar Mining Enterprise, Myanmar Economic Holding Ltd and China' s Wanbao Mining Ltd.