Several protesters have been injured when riot police fired tear gas and water cannon this morning at the China-backed Lapadaungtaung copper mine project in central Myanmar.
Latest updates
Update 10:20 AM
The officer of Sagaing Region Police Station also replied that they cannot mention the kind of weapons and number of forces in the raid.
Update 10:00 AM
The EMG has contacted to the head office of the Myanmar Police Force (MPF) to verify what kind of weapons were being used in this recent situation of the Lapadaungtaung copper mine project earlier this morning. The official of the head office of the MPF said ?The chief police and government officials were holding a meeting at the Presidential Office.?
When EMG reporter asked the Monywa district police station about the use of weapons and the number of police forces, the police-in-charge replied, “Have you witnessed the incident, haven’t you? We are not responsible to answer your question.”
Update 8:10 AM
Around 50 persons injured due to the police violent raid, the burnt have been hospitalized at Monywa hospital.
A total of ten monks have been detained by authority at the site, according to unofficial sources.
Update 8:00 AM
Injured persons in the clash included many Buddhist monks, and some of them were taken to Monywa township hospital. One seriously injured monk was taken to Mandalay hospital. The dispersed and injured protesters were being taken care at nearby houses and monasteries.
A monk injured during to the police raid (Photo – EMG)
A monk injured during to the police raid (Photo – EMG)
Update 5:50 AM
Out of the six protest camps, three were burnt down. Protesters from two more camps were forcibly dispersed. Riot police forces have controlled Buddhist ordination Hall of Ledi Sayadaw after dispersing demonstrators there.
Update 5:30 AM
Many cars and motorcycles belonging to the media and the public have been destroyed in the fire which started around the same time the tear gas were fired to disperse the protesters. Seven seriously injured people ? six monks and one local ? are now at a monastery at Phaungkartaung Village and protesters who were trapped during the raid have regrouped at the monastery. There has been no contact to the camp set up at Ledi Sayardaw’s Buddhist ordination hall up until 5 am. The riot police have left after threatening the two other camps at Taungkyar and Saetae.
Police raiding the protestors’ camps (Photo – EMG)
Police raiding the protestors’ camps (Photo – EMG)
Police raiding the protestors’ camps (Photo – EMG)
Police raiding the protestors’ camps (Photo – EMG)
Police raiding the protestors’ camps (Photo – EMG)
Fire burning at the site of the Lapadaungtaung copper mine project (Photo – EMG)
Fire burning at the site of the Lapadaungtaung copper mine project (Photo – EMG)
Fire burning at the site of the Lapadaungtaung copper mine project (Photo – EMG)
Fire burning at the site of the Lapadaungtaung copper mine project (Photo – EMG)
Fire burning at the site of the Lapadaungtaung copper mine project (Photo – EMG)
Fire burning at the site of the Lapadaungtaung copper mine project (Photo – EMG)
Update 4:30 AM
Several monks are included among the injured people and there are many fires due to the use of tear gas at the copper mine site.
Fire burning at the site of the Lapadaungtaung copper mine project (Photo – EMG)
Fire burning at the site of the Lapadaungtaung copper mine project (Photo – EMG)
Update 4:09 AM
Another camp has been vacated so a total of three camps have been vacated.
Update 3:50 AM
Monks and local residents had to vacate two camps out of six camps after the riot police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters and the riot police have taken control of the camps.
Update 3:15 AM
At 3 am, the riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at the monks and local residents who have set up camps in the area of the copper mine site, injuring several people.
Update : 3:00 AM
Six camps set up by protesters at the Lapadaungtaung copper mine project still have not been cleared at 2 am. The riot police have warned the protesters that actions will be taken according to police procedure and law if the camps were not vacated by midnight. Although the police have reiterated their warnings three times at 7:30 pm, 8:10 pm, and 8:50 pm yesterday, they still have not taken any actions till 2am this morning.
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