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We believe in the power of solidarity and that we can together prevent abuses against the people and environment in Burma. If your organization, network, or party endorses the Shwe Gas Movement’s position paper, please send us an email to solidarity@shwe.org. Please state the name of your group and the country where you are based. Both will appear on our web page at www.shwe.org. We can also include a web link to your homepage, if requested and link provided. Thank you for your support. 

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Position on the Shwe natural gas project in Burma

The Shwe Gas Movement is concerned with the Shwe Natural Gas Project presently unfolding in Western Burma. A consortium of South Korean and Indian corporations have completed survey and exploration phases of the project, which is due to move into a production phase.

Whether the gas is exported from Burma through pipelines or as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the project is destined to become the single largest source of foreign revenue for the military regime in Burma. According to conservative estimates, the regime could earn US$12-17 billion over 20 years.¹ These profits would arm the military regime with the means to continue abuses against the people of Burma and increase already unreasonably high military expenditures.

The project would result in direct human rights abuses, including forced labor, land confiscation, displacement, and other state-sanctioned violence that is consistent with similar projects in Burma.² This would escalate regional security threats, including massive out-flows of refugees to Bangladesh and India.

Due to weak environmental governance in Burma, the project threatens to disrupt formerly pristine ecosystems, threatening biodiversity, and threatening endangered species, such as the dugong, also known as the manatee.³

Through their partnership with the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in Burma on the Shwe Gas Project, Daewoo International of Korea, the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL), Korean Gas Corporation (KOGAS), and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh (ONGC Videsh), are responsible for preventing these otherwise imminent abuses.

The Governments of South Korea and India own stakes in three of the four involved corporations and thus have the power to prevent abuses. The sphere of responsibility also extends to any other Governments or corporations that purchase the gas as end users.

Daewoo International and the Government of India maintain strong support for the Burma military. This includes a Daewoo-led weapons factory in Burma and other ongoing material support from the Government of India, including weapons and aircraft subsequently used against the people of Burma.⁴ Since the discovery of the Shwe gas in Burma, this support has increased.⁵

The people of Burma, as well as India and Bangladesh, will be adversely affected by the Shwe Gas Project and have a right to protect their interests. The extraction of natural gas from Arakan state in Burma must be stopped until the affected people of Burma can decide on the use of their natural resources. This will come through a sound, democratically-elected government and the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent provided for under International Law.⁶