Zomi launched Nickel Movement

An activist of Gullu ( Mwetaung)  Nickel Project reported yesterday, a movement to protest the project has  starting along the project affected area.

'On January 12, a group of organisers made up with Zomi activists, Zomi students, Burmese Buddhist monks, 88 Generation Students Group,  Upper Chinwin Youth and journalists started traveling to the 6 affected villages of  the project and launch public awareness campaign.' said Mr. Lian Tuang of Kalaymyo locality and a leader of the movement reported.

The protester said they wanted the complete shutdown of the project in Tedim township, Chin State and near Kalaymyo township of Sagaing Division, Zogam.

The report also said a public meeting was held at Singgial  Zomi village,  40 activists from Kalaymyo and over 200 villagers from Singgial, Simzang, Sialthaw Zang, Nan Kyin Saung, Taya and Angone Kyaukchat had attended. According to the report,  the public meeting unanimously resolved  to start the movement, untill the demand are fullfiled by Myanmar Colonial Regime.

The resolutions of Guullu Mwetaung Nickel  Movement are:

1. Mining of Gullu Nickel Deposit should be totally suspend immediately..
2. If the mining has to be continues , the mining company must  follow  international law and standards.
3. If the above 2 steps are denied by the concern government and mining company, the group will take  necessary mean and  measure to stop the project..

The report also said the following steps will be conduct before they start full scale protest..

• The organisers will conduct public opinion survey and send their findings to Gullu and Kalay  valley Wacth Group-GKWG before January 20, 2013.
• The GKWG will collect facts from every nook and corner,   then prepare a complete draft resolution after consulting legal experts and scholars.
• The tentative resolution will be send village to village, and take suggestions and approval from Zomi and general public.
• After all the necessary steps are taken by organisers, the group will endorse the resolution to Myanmar Government, Parliament, Chin State Assembly, Sagaing Division Assembly and the concern mining companies.

Mr. Lian Tuang also said that the team will continues to more villages of the effected area and organise  Zomi and local people.

The Zijin Mining Company website of China states that Gullu Mwe Taung Nickel Project is a large-scale lateritic nickel deposits with Measured and Indicated Resources 36.14 million tons of ore (N> 1.0%) at the average grade of 1. 483%. And China ENFI Engineering Co., Ltd has the feasibility study report of the project.

Gullu Mwe Taung Nickel Deposit is  in Tedim ( Tiddim) Township, Chin State of Zomi indigenous people inhabited land of Asia.