昂山素季將探望緬甸銅礦抗議民衆
Burmese security forces fired tear gas and water cannons in a pre-dawn raid against protesters camped outside a controversial copper mine in a remote area of northwest Burma on Thursday.
A reporter for the VOA Burmese Service says at least seven villagers, including several monks, were injured after truckloads of police moved in to dismantle and burn the camps at the Letpadaung mine around 3 a.m. local time.
Hundreds of villagers had defied government orders to end the 10-day protest against the expansion of the copper mine located near the town of Monywa. Following the crackdown, many fled to a nearby village for refuge and to contemplate their next move.
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is set to visit the area Thursday to hear protesters' grievances.
Activists say the $1 billion expansion of the China-backed mine will cause environmental, social and health problems. They also accuse authorities of unlawfully seizing land for the project.遠地區一座有爭議的銅礦外面搭起帳篷的抗議者，對他們發射催淚彈和水炮。
美國之音緬甸語組記者報道說，乘坐卡車的警察於當地時間凌晨3點進入萊比塘礦區，拆除並焚燒帳篷，至少七名村民被打傷，其中包括幾名佛教僧侶。
緬甸當局下令停止持續10天的抗議，而數百名緬甸村民和僧侶對此不予理會。抗議者反對擴建蒙育瓦鎮附近的一座銅礦。當局開始鎮壓後，很多抗議者逃到附近一個村莊避難，同時考慮下一步的行動。
星期四，緬甸反對派領袖昂山素季將前往該地區，傾聽抗議者的訴求。
分析人士說，得到中國資助的這座銅礦的擴建項目耗資10億美元，將帶來環境、社會和健康等方面的問題。他們還指責當局爲實施這一項目而非法侵佔土地。
