[Myanmar] Kawthaung Residents Protest Coal Power Plant

Around 100 people in Kawthaung, Tenasserim Division, protested against a newly opened coal-fired power plant on Tuesday, according to a report by DVB. The protest, led by members of the Democratic Party (Myanmar) and All-Mon Region Democracy Party, expressed opposition to the eight-megawatt power plant despite promises by its owner, the Than Phyo Thu Mining Company, to provide cheap electricity to local residents. The company received permission to build the plant in January 2010 and began construction in October of that year. It became fully operational on Oct. 5 following a trail run in August.