The Karen National Union (KNU) has suspended a coalmine in response to local protests, reports Karen News. The mine, located in the Pawklo area east of Dawei in southern Burma’s Tenasserim Division, is operated by East Star, a Thai-Burmese joint venture company. The KNU’s Mergui-Tavoy District made the decision during its recently concluded 16th congress after local people and KNU township representatives pushed for the closure of the mine. East Star received permission from the KNU to mine in 2011, but is required to renew its permit every year. However, the company also has a 25-year concession to mine for coal granted by the Burmese government.
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