Arker – Locals from Anndin Village Tract came in large numbers to Ye Town Police Station to join the 26 locals [last week], who were arrested and taken in for investigations. The accused are now charged with Article 4.
After Ye Town police received a letter sent from locals in support of the coal-fired power project in Anndin area, the 26 anti-coal development protesters, including Hnit-kayot Village Chairman, were taken by police for investigations. Due to the investigation, residents from four villages in Anndin Village Tract rushed to the police station to join the investigation of the 26 accused.
The villagers who came and joined the investigation , on June 25, are from Anndin, Hnit-Kayot, Ywa Thit, and Thar-karan villages. As many as 351 villagers were present, while 19 trucks were and 50 motorbikes were, transporting them from Anndin village tract to Ye Town, 14 miles away.
“We are also included with those who oppose the selling of the land. Why are only 26 villagers taken in for investigation? It is like they are under investigation on our behalf. So, we came here to join them, “said U Nyut Win, from Anndin Village, who came to join the accused.
The names of the villagers who turned themselves in to join the 26 accused were taken by Ye Town Police Station, and the case will be continued as in accordance with the law.
“Now, it is just at the stage of questioning those accused. Those who came now will be also questioned individually,” said an official who conducted the investigation.
Per the letter, the accused faced investigations first conducted by Police Head Aung Myint Thein from Thanbyuzayat Township Police Force on June 13, while they also had another investigation by officials at Ye Town Police Station later that day..
The proposed coal-fired electricity plant project is to be built by Toyo-Thai company with a USD 2700 million investment, and once it comes into operation, the plant is capable of producing 1280 Megawatts of electricity. On April 9, the momentum of agreement (MoA) was signed between the Toyo-Thai, the union government and ministry of electricity.
However, the locals have been opposing the coal-fired project continuously, and on December 14, 2014, led by Ye Township Social Society Group, about 500 people marched in Ye Town, staging protest against the coal-fired project. Also, after the MoA signed by Toyo-Thai and the government, on May 5, 2015 about 6000 locals staged a protest on a football field in Anndin village, opposing the construction of coal-fired project.
