Protesting Buddhist monks sue Minister for injuries sustained from police brutality

oge okonkwo

March 16, 2015 5:04 PM

More than 100 Buddhist monks reportedly suffered severe burns from smoke bombs that reportedly contained white phosphorous when police dispersed the protesters at the Wanbao Mining Copper Ltd.

Scores of Buddhist monks who suffered severe burns during a police crackdown on protesters campaigning against a Chinese-backed copper mine two years ago launched a lawsuit Monday against Myanmar's home affairs minister.

More than 100 Buddhist monks reportedly suffered severe burns from smoke bombs that reportedly contained white phosphorous when police dispersed the protesters at the Wanbao Mining Copper Ltd.

ABC news reports that Justice Trust, a human rights group that works to advance rule of law in Myanmar and is supporting the monks, said in a statement that the lawsuit was launched against Home Affairs Minister Gen. Ko Ko for ordering what it called an illegal police action.

It said that 57 of the injured monks suffered serious burns requiring long-term medical care.

The Letpadaung mine — a joint venture between a Myanmar military-controlled holding company and China's Wanbao Mining Copper Ltd., a unit of weapons manufacturer China North Industries Corp.— has been a focal point of land rights disputes in recent years.

The protest in November 2012 drew international attention.

It was gathered that last December, a villager was shot dead during a confrontation as police and Chinese workers erected a fence on land that villagers claimed was theirs.

oge okonkwo