MONYWA — Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi Friday said authorities must apologize for a violent crackdown on monks and other foes of a mine in northwest Myanmar, but she also stuck to the government's view that the country must follow through on its commitment to build the project. Speaking to a crowd of more than 10,000 in the northwestern town of Monywa, the Nobel Peace laureate said people had the right to ask why authorities cracked down so harshly on the nonviolent protesters who had occupied the nearby Letpadaung copper mine for 11 days. It was the government's biggest crackdown on demonstrations since reformist President Thein Sein took office last year. Police used water cannons, tear gas and smoke bombs to break up the protest early Thursday. Weapons that protesters described as flare guns caused severe burns to protesters and set shelters ablaze. A nurse at a Monywa hospital said 27 monks and one other person were admitted there to be treated for burns. “I want to ask, ‘What was their purpose of doing this?' Frankly, there's no need to act like this,” Suu Kyi said. People in the crowd shouted back: “Right!” “I'm not saying this to agitate people,” she continued. “I never persuade people by agitating. I explain to people so that they can decide by thinking.” In remarks to reporters Friday, Suu Kyi said the authorities “need to apologize to the monks.” — AP
