The vinyl posters reading pubic opposition to the planned extraction of lead on 250 acres of farmland in Kontha and Kayanthaya village-tracts in Loikaw Township, Kayah State, during the Covid-19 outbreak were reportedly removed by unidentified persons.

The posters were stuck on the tree stems and in public places of the village-tracts by local villagers and Karani MATA (Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability).

“We villagers stuck the posters on April 1. On the morning and night of April 2, they came to remove them. They came on motorbikes. They are not like villagers. They seemed to be coming from mainland. Even the village heads did not know them. When I asked why, they said the posters were removed under the instructions from higher authorities,” said Aung Nge from Pekin Kawkhu Village, who witnessed the poster removals.

The MATA and villagers tried to stick the posters again on April 2 morning. But they had to suspend it because of the instruction from the State Public Health Department that legal action will be taken against any gathering of more than five people.