Hundreds of people staged a protest against plan to resume Myitsone dam project in front of Maha Bandoola Park in Yangon Region on January 27.

During the protest, Han Win Aung who was involved in Letpetdaungtaung copper mine project talked on objections to Myitsone dam project and then he was prohibited while he was taking out the flag of China from the bag. 

If Myitsone dam project is carried out, natural environment will deteriorate. Even experts made objections to the implementation of Myitsone project. Regarding political and military strategies, we are always afraid of China. If the dam collapses, we will all face damages and losses. For that reason, we don’t want Myitsone dam project that is always posing a threat to us. We stage the protest in case the project shall bring disadvantages to us, said advocate Kyi Myint.

Ayeyawady River originates from Myanmar, not from China and India. It belongs to ethnic people of 45 million. We support that Kachin people objected to Myitsone project, said advocate Kyi Myint.

With regard to the reason to object to Myitsone project, advocate Kyi Myint, Aye Aye Khine, Aung Soe, Myat Kyaw and Han Win Aung talked on objections. 

I suppose that those who were arriving at here loved Ayeyawady. Ayeyawady originates from the confluence of Maykha and Malikha. It does not concern Kachin people alone, but it represents all ethnics—Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Bama, Mon, Rakhine and Shan—. It is our heart and soul. It concerns our sovereignty too much. We will save Ayeyawady. We totally don’t accept Myitsone project, said Aye Aye Khine.

A person doesn’t own Ayeywady alone and a government doesn’t own it alone as well. Everyone born here owns Ayeyawady. If a government or a group of having authority or a person of having power decides to continue Myintsone, everywhere along Ayeyawady will be in flames.  Ayeyawady is our life and soul. The statement issued by the Chinese embassy on January 13 seems a challenge to Myanmar people. We will respond to this challenge, said Han Win Aung.  

Translated and Edited by Win Htut