昂山素季将探望缅甸铜矿抗议民众

Burmese security forces fired tear gas and water cannons in a pre-dawn raid against protesters camped outside a controversial copper mine in a remote area of northwest Burma on Thursday.

A reporter for the VOA Burmese Service says at least seven villagers, including several monks, were injured after truckloads of police moved in to dismantle and burn the camps at the Letpadaung mine around 3 a.m. local time.

Hundreds of villagers had defied government orders to end the 10-day protest against the expansion of the copper mine located near the town of Monywa. Following the crackdown, many fled to a nearby village for refuge and to contemplate their next move.

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is set to visit the area Thursday to hear protesters' grievances.

Activists say the $1 billion expansion of the China-backed mine will cause environmental, social and health problems. They also accuse authorities of unlawfully seizing land for the project.远地区一座有争议的铜矿外面搭起帐篷的抗议者，对他们发射催泪弹和水炮。

美国之音缅甸语组记者报道说，乘坐卡车的警察于当地时间凌晨3点进入莱比塘矿区，拆除并焚烧帐篷，至少七名村民被打伤，其中包括几名佛教僧侣。

缅甸当局下令停止持续10天的抗议，而数百名缅甸村民和僧侣对此不予理会。抗议者反对扩建蒙育瓦镇附近的一座铜矿。当局开始镇压后，很多抗议者逃到附近一个村庄避难，同时考虑下一步的行动。

星期四，缅甸反对派领袖昂山素季将前往该地区，倾听抗议者的诉求。

分析人士说，得到中国资助的这座铜矿的扩建项目耗资10亿美元，将带来环境、社会和健康等方面的问题。他们还指责当局为实施这一项目而非法侵占土地。