Hundereds Protest against Planned Power Plant in Mon State

Originally appeared in Democratic Voice of Burma

December 14, 2014

More than 500 locals at Aunden Village in Mon State protested against a proposed coal-fired power plant project on Sunday.

Villagers shouted slogans, such as “No Aunden coal plant”, “Dismiss the Aunden coal power plant!”, “We don’t want Toyo-Thai Company!”, and “We don’t want coal plant in our area!” while marching through the town of Ye.

Thai company Toyo-Thai and Burma’s Ministry of Electric Power last year signed an agreement to implement the Aunden coal power plant in Mon State, though this has provoked strong opposition from local residents and civil rights groups.

Many locals fear pollution and health issues if the planned power plant goes ahead, and several civil society groups have united against the planned development.

Ye Township does not receive a power supply from the government, and many residents continue to rely on generators to fuel their homes. Toyo-Thai, one of the largest companies in Thailand, has been meeting with locals since April in an attempt to convince them that the 1,200-megawatt power plant would be beneficial for the region.

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