Mawlamyine Cement Limited (MCL) have invited local residents and monks from Kyaikmayaw Township to observe a Siam Cement Group’s (SCG’s) factory in Lamphun Province, northern Thailand.
The MCL has arranged for 20 monks and 7 laypersons for the tour which begins tomorrow, February 2, leaving from Kyaikmayw Township. The group will then cross the Thai-Burma border over the Myawaddy-Mae Sot Friendship Bridge.
“I was invited too and because I accepted, they already took my passport. The SCG Company invited us to observe its factory in operation in Thailand,” said Sayadaw Kaythu Marla, from Kaw Palaing Village.
Among the invited laymen and monks, senior monks who have influence in the villages nearby the MCL factory were also invited.
“It is not that we support the coal-fired project because we were invited. If it is not harmful to our environment and region, it is okay for the company to continue the project. But, the company must stop the project if it is harmful,” said Sayadaw Thila Wontha from Hongsar Htaw Monastery.
In May, 2014, the MCL took a group of representatives from the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) and the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) as well as administrators from Kyaikmayaw Township to the company’s factory in Thailand.
“For me, because I am not an expert, it’s just to look around. It is necessary to include experts for this observation. If they also observe, it would be clear for everyone to know,” said Nai San Tin, who joined the observing group in 2014.
Nai San Tin added that before they toured in May 2014, a group of representatives from the outgoing Mon State Government also were also invited by SCG to its factory.
On January 22, the MCL invited local monks to its factory. At the meeting with the monks, the MCL officials revealed that the factory would use coal-fired power plant with the capacity of 40 mega watt to run its factory.
