The residents in Mong Kok felt they could be forced out of their villages as the coal mine operations shifts to high gear, according to a statement they issued last week.





The 28-year coal mining concession, signed in July, is a joint venture between Thailand’s Sahakol Equipment Co. Ltd (SQ) and Myanmar’s Golden Lake Co. Ltd.

The Thai company holds the majority stake of 70 percent in the joint venture, while the Myanmar firm controls the remaining 30pc.

It intends to mine 300,000 tonnes of coal a year, mainly for export to Thailand. It also plans to build a 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant to supply electricity to Thailand’s power grid.

Earlier in October, over 300 villagers held a prayer ceremony to protect their lands from coal mining, but their supplications apparently went unheeded as Thai workers -- using backhoes, bulldozers and ten-wheel trucks – began to clear about 3,200 acres of land for mining.

Villagers are worried that up to nine villages in Mong Kok could be evicted to make way for the giant coal mine and coal fired power plant.

Mong Kok is home to 2500 Shan, Lahu and Akha farmers, many of whom would have to move once mining begins.

The villagers have opposed the project amid concerns would be displaced from their current residences.





They collected signatures and submitted a letter of objection to the Department of Agriculture Land Management and Statistics of Mong Hsat township on August 9, 2017, but received no reply.