HURFOM’s statement on Toyo-Thai company’s plans to build a power plant in Ann-Din village, Ye Township, Mon State

May 5, 2015

The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) is very much concerned about the decision of Toyo-Thai Corporation Public Company Limited (TTCL) to construct a 1,280 MW coal-fired power plant in Ann-Din Village, Parlain region, Ye Township, Mon State. TTCL’s implementation of the project violates international foreign investment norms and also the rights of the local community living in the project area.

Since TTCL proposed the project in Ann-Din, there has been concern and instability among local inhabitants living in the project area. The investment has created disunity and power struggles between religious groups, political parties, and ethnic communities in Ye Township.

HURFOM is very much concerned that the degree of conflict and disagreement between project stakeholders and community opposition is getting more and more intense. In this way the TTCL’s coal power plant has started to affect the unity and stability of Ye Township’s local community.

Since the purpose of building the power plant is to sell the majority of electricity produced to neighboring countries, the plant will provide only a few megawatts of power to the local people in Mon State. However, future generations in Mon State will suffer from negative impacts of the coal-fired power plant. The government needs to review their energy policy and immediately put a stop to the power plant project, which has already created negative impacts for local people in the region.

HURFOM urges the Mon State government to respect and protect the economical, social and cultural rights of the community and plan for action to protect the environment in Mon State.

HURFOM urges political parties and community leaders in Mon State to help protect their environment, to advance the rights of the next generation and to help put a stop to this foreign investment project, which has already caused social conflict and detrimental division in the community.

HURFOM calls on the Mon State community to protect the beauty, unity and stability of Mon State by opposing the power plant construction project, which will impact thousands of people’s livelihoods and social-economic conditions, as well as the region’s environment.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News