More than 1,000 villagers living near the Karen State capital Hpa-an were invited to a public consultation meeting on April 28 by local officials and the Karen National Union (KNU) to voice their concerns over a Chinese-funded cement factory, the Karen Information Center reports. The Myanmar Jidong Cement Co. Ltd was proposed at Kawt Phyan Mountain near Mi Kayin village early this year and supported by authorities and KNU Brigade 1, prompting an angry response from the local community. Resident Nan Mu Mu said, “This mountain belonged to our parents—all Karen people have the responsibility to retain it… Therefore, we opposed it [cement factory].”
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