Forum on Minority Issue
Item – 5 Minority Youth, Agents of change and stability
Speaker – Saw Say Lar
Date – 01. 12. 2017
Thank You Mr. Chairperson
My name is Saw Say Lar, I belong to Karen ethnic minority in Myanmar and I am one of the
minority fellow of OHCHR.
I would like to tell you all about Harmful Development Projects that lead to huge human right
violation in minority area and threating peace process in Myanmar.
Lepadaung copper mine project in central Myanmar displace 441 households from 4 villages and
villager Daw Khin Win shot dead by police when she protected her own land, 100,000 people displaced
from Jade Mining in Kachine State, Hpa Ka area, Planning Mega Hydro Power projects on Salween river
will displace and destroy 10 million of minority people lives and it is threading peace process in Myanmar.
When we look back to those projects, they are all located in ethnic minority area, the most
vulnerable people who have been oppressed by majority Burmese soldiers over the past 6 decades.
In 2015 National League for Democracy (NLD) won the election and we(minority) believe that
discrimination will end, but FORCE EVICTION , approving HARMFUL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS in minority
are continuing without FREE, PRION, INFORM and CONSENT process.
I would like to make tow recommendations to Myanmar Government
(1) Myanmar government should respect and protect minority people right and every citizen must
be free from intimidation and threat form police and military when they gather to raise their vo ice and
express their thought.
(2) Government should follow National Cease Fire (peace agreement) guide line in Article (9) that
protect civilian and make sure all of the citizen are safe.
Thank You