OW SEA statement call to stop oil&gas exploitation in Burma
OilWatch
Southeast Asia Statement to Call for ASEAN Governments Support to
Stop Oil and Gas Exploitation
and
Burmese Human Right Violation .
Realizing
the ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting in Burma which is being held in
Mandalay in this week that ultimately would set out the ambitious
directions for the future development in Burma, the OilWatch
Southeast Asia has a great concern on the overall situation,
economically, politically, socially and environmentally, considering
the already over exploitation of the natural resources within the
country.
Besides
the meeting, it has marked the ASEAN Plus 6 which recognizes the
official involvement of Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea
and New Zealand in Burma’s energy development. A number of papers
relating to a range of energy issues in Global and regional level
will be read out at the meeting.
Oil
Watch SEA is a network of Southeast Asian environmental NGOs, with
our missions to encourage sustainable use of energy resources under
the sustainable development goal in all economic, environmental and
social dimensions.
We
call for and urging governments to keep fossil fuels, particularly,
oil and gas underground, realizing the current and increasing threats
of climate change and its significant evidenced impacts on ecological
systems and all lives on earth.
Since
Burma is opened to foreign investment in late 1988, oil companies
from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea
and China have been engaged in oil and gas exploration in the
country. Official
statistics reveal that foreign investment in Burma's oil and gas
sector had reached 3.357 billions U.S. dollars in 88 projects as of
the end of 2008, standing the second in the country's foreign
investment sector after electric power. Burma’s current investment plan
of which so far four oil and gas
development projects are actively promoted have significantly led to
the loss of livelihood of which villagers,
who have traditionally relied on fishing, have lost their livelihoods
as a result of fishing restrictions. Violence has been obvious
against communities entering the exclusion zones where exact
parameters of the restrictions have not been adequately informed. These
communities have been forced to find other means of survival.
Additionally, these development projects have introduced high risk of
complicit in human rights abuses where increasing number of soldiers
has safeguarded the construction sites. These have included forced
labors, forced relocation, torture, rape and murder. Further
development under international cooperation, be it governments or
private developers actively involved in oil and gas projects, would
even introduce the continuation of the already worsening political
situation in Burma and posses further risks on its communities and
natural resources.
Since
ASEAN has a closer relationship with Burma than any other political
and economic associations, with this important occasion of the ASEAN
Energy Ministers Meeting in Burma, during July 27 to 30, 2009 it
would be a great opportunity for all governments to significantly
realise the development patterns under the Burma specific contexts
prior to further decisions on development collaboration.
OilWatch
SEA is, therefore, calling upon all ASEAN governments, to, the
following:
Signify
and prioritizing the development of democracy in Burma, to ensure
people’s active involvement and participation in the decision making
process;
Actively
support alternative and renewable sources of energy while keeping oil
and gas underground. We urge major Chinese and South Korean investors
to terminate oil and gas projects and remain oil and gas as the last
resource to be invested, until the democracy and active people’s
participation in decision making process is well in place in Burma;
Pay
the Government of Burma and its citizen equal respects, dignity and
equalities, through applying the same international standards in
development processes and activities;
Urge
active Burma people’s participation process in energy development
related projects and activities; and
Realize
the increasing global evidence of impacts of climate change and foster
any development projects and activities under the long term sustainable
development goals while promoting the livelihood of Burma citizen and
natural resources as well as ecological and climate balance based
pattern on the respect of community rights.
In
solidarity,
OILWATCH
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Country
Contacts:
Penchom
Tang, Campaign for Alternative Industry Network (CAIN), THAILAND
Email:
;
Tel: +66 2 952 5061
Jockai Khaing ,
Arakan
Oil Watch, BURMA
Email:
;
Tel:
+66 (0) 81 169 8765
Siti
Maemunah, JATAM Indonesia, INDONESIA
Email:
;
Tel. +62-(0) 21-794 1559
Clemente
Bautista, Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment
(Kalikasan-PNE), PHILIPPINES
