• Burmese
Saturday, July 12, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
26 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Police to File Charges Against Cement Factory Protesters

De Hlaing Winn by De Hlaing Winn
June 3, 2019
in Burma
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
Police and Aung Thabyay residents seen before the confrontation on May 15, 2019. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Police and Aung Thabyay residents seen before the confrontation on May 15, 2019. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

5.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MANDALAY—The Mandalay Region Police Force will arrest and take action against all those involved in a violent protest on May 15 against the construction of a cement plant project near the village of Aung Thabyay in Patheingyi Township, Mandalay Region, according to region police force chief Police Brig-Gen Sein Lin.

“Between 50 and 100 [protesters] are involved,” the police chief said at a press conference on Sunday.

“We police are to act in accordance with the law. As the project and the company are legal, the farmers can only oppose the project in line with the law. If they act anarchically and lawlessly, action will be taken against them in line with the law,” said Police Brig-Gen Sein Lin.

RelatedPosts

Mekong River Body Detects Heavy Metal Contamination

Mekong River Body Detects Heavy Metal Contamination

July 7, 2025
557
Myanmar, Thailand Ramp Up Cooperation on Border Issues

Myanmar, Thailand Ramp Up Cooperation on Border Issues

July 4, 2025
1.6k
Residents of Myanmar Ruby Hub Speak Out as TNLA Mining Takes Toll

Residents of Myanmar Ruby Hub Speak Out as TNLA Mining Takes Toll

June 20, 2025
1.7k

Since 2018, the township general administration, police and the company have opened 12 cases involving 54 individuals, 12 of whom have been arrested.

The US$200-million Alpha Cement factory is being implemented by China’s Myint Investment Co. near Aung Thabyay with the approval of the Myanmar Investment Commission. The project is to be operated on electricity from a coal-fired power plant.

The project was approved in 2012 but suspended since then due to opposition from local residents. The Mandalay Region government reviewed the project, and gave the green light to its resumption, saying it is in line with the law.

Locals said that they are protesting against the project over environmental and health concerns.

Project manager U Win Hlaing suggested that protest was instigated by an individual.

“We bought the lands from owners in 2014. They accepted [the price we offered] and signed the purchase deals on their own volition. Protestors are not complaining about land [compensation],” he said.

Since May 14, residents of Aung Thabyay blocked the road leading into the village and staged a sit-in protest, calling for the termination of the project and the release of the detained villagers who were arrested regards to the previous protests against the project.

Tensions arose as officials from the township general administration department and security police came and asked the villagers to leave. At around 4.30 a.m. on May 15, 150 police used rubber bullets and tear bombs to disperse the crowd.

“We didn’t want that to happen. We have reported to different levels of authorities about our grievances, and we have had to do this because they didn’t care. Some of the villagers were injured in the clash,” said Aung Thabyay resident Ma Yin Yin Aung.

Police Brig-Gen Sein Lin said the crowd constituted an unlawful assembly.

“There were people in the crowd who we had to arrest. When we went there to make the arrests, they blocked our way by lighting fires and shooting at us with slingshots. The crowd was out of control and we had to fire warning shots. Rubber bullets only cause injuries in close-range shooting, so no protestor was injured. Even if they were injured, it would be with minor injuries.”

Following the clash, locals went into the site of the factory and set vehicles on fire. Two vehicles and three motorbikes were burnt with damage caused to some buildings, according to police records.

“We are only arresting key suspects and those manipulating [the protesters] from behind,” said Police Brig-Gen Sein Lin.

Over 50 police have been deployed at the site to provide security following the incident.

You may also like these stories:

Mandalay Police Officer Seriously Injured in Landmine Training

Military Seeks Second Defamation Suit Against Mandalay Monk

Four More US Citizens Wanted in Connection with Mandalay Marijuana Plantation

17 Injured as Police Break up Protest Against Cement Factory Project in Mandalay

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Alpha CementEnvironmentLand Issues
De Hlaing Winn

De Hlaing Winn

Similar Picks:

UWSA Facilitating China’s Damming of Salween River in Eastern Myanmar: Report
Myanmar-China Watch

UWSA Facilitating China’s Damming of Salween River in Eastern Myanmar: Report

by The Irrawaddy
September 6, 2024
5.9k

A Shan State rights watchdog says country’s most powerful ethnic armed organization is paving the way for dam projects that...

Read moreDetails
Rare Earth Mining Taking Heavy Toll in Myanmar’s Kachin, Groups Say
Burma

Rare Earth Mining Taking Heavy Toll in Myanmar’s Kachin, Groups Say

by Hein Htoo Zan
May 27, 2024
5.3k

Amid heavy global demand for rare earths, local activists’ concerns about the impacts on the environment and local communities are...

Read moreDetails
Life Without Power Spells Daily Misery for Yangon’s Residents
Burma

Life Without Power Spells Daily Misery for Yangon’s Residents

by Nyein Nyein
January 29, 2025
5k

Lack of electricity affects every aspect of Yangon residents’ daily lives, from work to sleep, and now even hotter weather...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta, Chinese Firm Step Up Cooperation on Irrawaddy River Dam Planning
Burma

Myanmar Junta, Chinese Firm Step Up Cooperation on Irrawaddy River Dam Planning

by The Irrawaddy
May 23, 2024
3k

The creation by the junta of a new body to evaluate hydropower projects on the river comes amid fears it...

Read moreDetails
Junta Boss Drops Green Bombshell; Goes Plane-Crazy Over Dollar Shortage; and More  
Junta Watch

Junta Boss Drops Green Bombshell; Goes Plane-Crazy Over Dollar Shortage; and More  

by The Irrawaddy
June 7, 2025
2.5k

Also this week, the regime installed a new chief banker and extended its bogus humanitarian ceasefire.  

Read moreDetails
Rare Twin Elephants Take First Steps in Myanmar
Burma

Rare Twin Elephants Take First Steps in Myanmar

by AFP
September 6, 2024
2.4k

Pearl Sint was born a few minutes before her brother Kyaw Pearl last week at the 25-hectare Wingabaw elephant camp...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivers a Keynote speech on the opening night of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, May 31, 2019. / IISS

US, China Must Work Together: Singapore PM

USDP chairperson U Than Htay (second left) and leading party members at an event in Naypyitaw in 2018. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

USDP Vows to Bring Back Security-Related Laws if Reelected

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

‘Reforms Are Not Optional’: Prominent Activist Urges NUG to Act Before It’s Too Late

‘Reforms Are Not Optional’: Prominent Activist Urges NUG to Act Before It’s Too Late

2 days ago
991
Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

2 days ago
989

Most Read

  • Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

    Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Deploying Conscripts in Major Push to Reclaim Lost Territory

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Chief Thanks Trump for Shutting Down VOA and RFA

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Two Prominent Myanmar Ex-Political Prisoners Die Hours Apart in Yangon

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Junta Bombing of Resistance-Held Areas in Mandalay, Karenni Kills Seven Civilians

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.