Monks protest across Myanmar to demand formal apology for violent crackdown on mine protesters

     By Associated Press, Published: December 12

YANGON, Myanmar — Buddhist monks across Myanmar have peacefully demonstrated to demand a formal apology from the government for its recent crackdown on protesters at a copper mine that injured more than 100 of their monastic colleagues.
Hundreds of monks in Yangon and Mandalay, the country’s two biggest cities, along with Monywa, the town closest to the mine, and at least six other towns marched in protest Wednesday as security forces stood by without interfering.

Police used water cannons, tear gas and smoke bombs on Nov. 29 to break up an 11-day occupation of the Letpadaung mine project, a joint venture between a military-controlled holding company and a Chinese mining company. Protesters want the project halted, saying it is causing environmental, social and health problems.