Army arrest locals following explosion in gas pipeline

Chan Mon, IMNA
February 4, 2006

The home of a Mon rebel group member, which has a ceasefire with the government, was raided and at least 10 people were arrested from the village through which the Kanbauk-Myaing-Kalay gas pipeline passes in the aftermath of the explosions. The commander of the local battalion No.62 ordered the arrests

The pipeline transmits gas from Yatana offshore gas site to Myaing-kalay for the cement factory. Explosions occurred near Kwan-Hlar village, Mudon Township on February 1 night frightening villager's hen huge columns of fire shot skywards. Gas leaked with a loud hissing sound the whole night.

Following the five-hour leakage a 10-mile radius smelt of gas. An officer from the Military Southeast Region Command inspected the site. The local military authority claimed an unknown group set off the explosion. Troops interrogated the people who they suspected.

“They detained the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) secretary, including a villager. They were accused of patrolling the gas pipeline that day. About 10 people were arrested,” said source close to the VPDC.

Soldiers searched the home of a member of the New Mon State Party NMSP, checked everything and arrested the family. The NMSP member was not at home.

“Local authorities seized a telecommunication equipment and some journals from his home,” said a NMSP source in the area.

Currently NMSP leaders in Thanpyuzayart Township are talking with local troops regarding the crackdown on their member's home and the seizure. Later the troops released the NMSP member's family.

A villager from Hnee-Pa-Daw village was arrested when he came to watch the damage caused by the explosion.

The military authorities have put a tight security cordon around the main road following the explosion for checking people suspected of involvement in the explosion. Military authorities distributed papers and posters of the people they suspect were involved in the explosion. Authorities claimed that four Burmese, two Karen and two Indian-Burmese men from groups in exile in Thailand were involved.

However, some local people claimed that the explosion occurred on its own. They said there were flaws in the pipeline during construction and gas leaked regularly in the area during transmission.

Local people said, gas leaked twice last year and explosions occurred twice in 2000, and 2003 because of faulty design of the pipeline.

Once gas exploded in Lamine town, Southern Mon State and frightened people out of their wits with the sound and the smell.

This gas pipeline was laid in early 2000 and it passes through many villages, towns, farms and plantation areas. It is about 200 miles long.