Arker- Hnin Ka-yok Village chairman and twenty locals who are in opposition to the coal-fired electricity project in Inn Din Village, Ye Township,
were taken to Ye Town’s police station for questioning on June 13.
The investigation was in response to letters received by police outlining fears of retribution sent from families that are in support of building coal-fired plant, regarding alleged aggression from anti-coal protesters.
“We invited them [to the police station] just to ask for the facts”, said official Myint Taw, police force of Ye Township.
On May 15, locals were shouting out slogans such as “no coal” and surrounding Ma Ye Htay from Thar-karan village whilst she was working, selling out land plots in Hnee-tha-yok Village for the coal-fired plant project. The situation then escalated into a riot [conflict between Ma Ye Htay,pro-coaled fired plant, and anti-coaled locals].
On May 25, four locals, namely Ma Ye Htay, U Tar Tay, Daw Kyi Linn and Ma Khin Khin, sent letters about the conflict to Ye Township Police station.
The letter included “ Ma Ye Htay, a Thar-ka-ran villager, is a supporter for the implementation of coal-fired electricity project,”.
The letter went on to describe the event;
“On May 15, Ma Ye Htay visited the owners of her neighbouring paddy fields[farm] and her farmer-friends to discuss a farm grant [which allows farmers to work on their farm] in Hnee Ka-yoke Village. While she was there to meet her friends, U Aung Myint Shein, [Hnee Ka-yoke Village’s housing and farming head] caused problems with her. Then U Aung Myint Shein gathered local thugs, causing further problems and frightening Ma Ye Htay. So, Ma Ye Htay had to avoid trouble and run away from that area, hiding at the house of U Thar Tay and Daw Kyi Lin.”
“Moreover, the thugs led by U Aung Myint Shein surrounded the house of U Thar Tay and Daw Kyi Lin and destroyed the fence of the house. The thugs then frightened her by threatening to cut her and kill her with sticks and knives,” stated the letter.
According to U Maung Shin, the Inn Din Village administrator, who witnessed the incident, it was just locals coming down and surrounding her. Furthermore, the points written on the petition letter are not true, and he did not blame the supporters of the coal-fired plant. However, he continued that since it has been hot issue, Ma Ye Htay should not sustain her business with land plots.
On May 26, a day after the letter was filed, U Aung Myint Shein was accused, by Ye Town Police Station, with [criminal] articles of 447, 451, and 506. Then, Police Official Aung Myint Thein, from Thanbyuzayat Township Police Force, went to Ye to investigate [with U Aung Myint Shein].
“They [police] did not explain to the accused why he was questioned, how he would be investigated and for what. They do not even tell me as I accompanied him,” said U Aung Naing Win, secretary of Ye Township Social Society Group, who went along with the accused locals to the police station.
U Aung Myint Shein, the accused, said that as stated in the petition letter, he was questioned about whether he was involved in the case, whether he was involved in invading the house and in frightening the victim.
The proposed coal-fired plant is to be constructed by Toyo-Thai Company, in Inn Din Village area, with an investment of USD 2700 Million and is capable of producing about 1280 megawatts of electricity. On April 9, a momentum of agreement (MoA) was signed between the Union government, the ministry of electricity and Toyo-Thai.
Locals have staged protests against the coal-fired projects. On December 14, 2014, led by Ye Social Society Group, about 500 locals staged a protest marching in Ye Town. On May 5, again, about 6000 locals staged a protest at the football field of Inn Din Village, in opposition against the coal-fired project.
