To
U
Thein Sein
President
Republic
of the Union of Burma
1st December 2012
C/o
Embassy
of the Republic of the Union of Burma
3/50
f, Nyaya Marg, Chanakya Puri, New Delhi- 110021
Dear
President,
Burmese
democratic forces in India strongly condemn the brutal crackdown on peaceful
protestors near Letpadaung copper mine by the police on 29 November, 2012.
Since
August 2012 hundreds of local farmers, human rights activists and Buddhists
monks have been protesting against the copper mine and its negative impacts
such as land confiscation and environmental degradation. We also believe you
are very much aware of this ongoing crisis.
Therefore,
we are deeply saddened that such brutal crackdowns were carried out against the
citizens under your leadership which of the talk of "democratic
principles" and the "Rule of law". We observe that reforms in
Burma cannot be called genuine if such brutal act continues to occur in the
country.
More
than 7,800 acres of land from 26 villages were already confiscated for the
Chinese-backed copper mine project since last year. The project must be
suspended and thorough assessment must be carried out to ascertain the impact
of the project. Appropriate measures should be taken up to mitigate future
negative impacts as well give compensation for damages being already done to
the local community.
Citizen's
land rights, freedom of speech and expression, right to have assembly and form
association and common people's rights must be respected and allowed to
practice if your government genuinely wants to reinstall democracy in the
country.
We
therefore call on the government of Burma to immediately:
- · Conduct an independent investigation with international experts into the crackdown on 29 November and provide justice for the victims;
- · Suspend the Letpadaung copper mine and
- · Release all those who were arrested in connection with the protests.
Burmese
Democratic Forces in India
WZ-109
A, Bodela, Vikas Puri, New Delhi- 110018
Ph+
91- 8800414483
Kimbo119@gmail.com
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