18.02.2007
Speaking with (SGM) Shwe Gas Movement
_ Interview by Raluca Enescu
_ Interview with Dr. Rannin Soe, Co-ordinator of SHWE Gas Movement
Dubbed the “Shwe” (gold in Burmese) gas project after one of the field’s most profitable wells, the project consortium is led by South Korea Company Daewoo International, the state-owned Korean Oil and Gas (KOGAS) Company, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation of India (ONGC), and the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL).
The Shwe Gas project will likely result in the construction of two overland natural gas pipelines from the Shwe gas deposits in Burma’s Bay of Bengal: one to India and the other to China. The pipeline to India will adversely impact the people of Burma, especially the people of Arakan and Chin States. The pipeline to China’s Yunnan province will pass through Shan State and Burma’s “dry zone,” where approximately 25 per cent of Burma’s population resides amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
BURMA DIGEST: First of all, could you please explain to our readers, what are the goals and missions of your campaign?
SHWE GAS MOVEMENT: Well, I would say that the main goals of our campaign are to urge and request oil and gas companies not to do business with rights violating regime, SPDC, and to pull out their investments from Burma until there is an elected and democratic government installed in Burma and when the people of the whole of Burma and Western Burma in particular can participate in the decision-making process and benefit from this Shwe Gas project and not suffer the same fate as the people affected by the Yadana and the Yetagun pipelines in Mon and Karen state.
In order to ensure and carry out these goals our missions are to call for international communities, to ask international governments and NGOs to develop awareness, corporations and involvements that this project can be halted, moreover to document large-scale human rights violations and militarization, environment and cultural destruction because of this Shwe Gas project.
All critical issues are addressed in accordance with the will of the people, international law and human rights principles, the Shwe Gas Movement, appeals to the international community to:
- Postpone the extraction of the Shwe natural gas deposit until a time when the affected people in Western Burma can participate in decisions about the use of their local resources and related infrastructure development without fearing persecution.
- Withdraw or freeze all current business with the military regime, and refrain from further investment until dialogue can be held with a democratically elected government.
BURMA DIGEST: What is the impact that projects of investing in gas in Arakan state have on ordinary people in Burma?
SHWE GAS MOVEMENT: The attempt to invest this Shwe Gas project is a catastrophe for the ordinary people of Arakan state in Burma because this project not only will make entrenching military dictatorship system under this rule people of Burma had suffered since 1962 but also will give full of misery to the local community in where now land confiscations are high and human rights violations such as rape, force labour and killings by the Burmese regime are increased.
Moreover, it is feared that, when these projects are materialized, it will cause a lot of trouble for the local people, both in Arakan and Chin State, particularly with the increase in deployment of Burmese armed forces under the pretext of guarding the pipeline, increased forced relocation, forced labour, summery execution, torture and other human rights violations, destruction of forests and natural environment will occur.
BURMA DIGEST: What do you think about the idea of imposing economical sanctions to Burma, until a definite change of regime would occur?
SHWE GAS MOVEMENT: I am sure to say the idea of imposing economical sanctions to the Burmese regime is always on the right track. We have constantly heard the complaining voice from the side of SPDC regime and its supporters. This is showing that they are hit by these sanctions. But, by doing these Burmese people will not be suffered because the whole economic sector of Burma is controlled by the SPDC generals group.
BURMA DIGEST: What about consumer boycotts? Are they effective?
SHWE GAS MOVEMENT: Personally, I trust about it because all businesses are totally depending on consumers and customers. And it can surely be effective if share-holders and consumers are organized to have awareness on this matter.
BURMA DIGEST: What have you done, so far, in your campaign, in order to stop unethical investments? What do you plan on doing, in the near future?
SHWE GAS MOVEMENT: I could say that we have done a lot particularly in The Netherlands. We have organized not only Dutch people but also government institutions. And I believe that a part of our voice Dutch government has contributed millions of euro for humanitarian aid to the Burmese refugees and IDP people in Thai-Burma borders.
I can say here one of our future plans is to do a campaign boycott against Daewoo’s products.
BURMA DIGEST: Do you collaborate also with other organizations concerned about democracy and human rights in Burma? With whom?
SHWE GAS MOVEMENT: Yes, we have collaborate with many international Organization and Burmese Organizations.A member organization of Nationalities Youths Forum (NYF), Students' and Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB) and Ethnic Community Development Forum (ECDF)Political defiance campaigns in collaboration with All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) and Democratic Party for New Society (DPNS) Join hands with Bangladeshi Students and Youths Organizations, Forum Asia, Altsean Burma, Korean House for International Solidarity, International Earth Right (IER) (KHIS), BCN ( Burma Centrum Nederland ) , Total Campaign for International, also the Shwe Gas Movement and AASYC are planning to cooperate with a number of Burma advocacy groups and youth groups in Asia, US and Europe.
BURMA DIGEST: Do you feel that you are supported by the international community?
SHWE GAS MOVEMENT: Yes, we get more sympathies and international support.
BURMA DIGEST: It may be quite hard for people outside Burma, and for governments, particularly, to understand exactly what is happening inside the country. How do you think the international community can judge about whether and by what means there is a chance to reform?
SHWE GAS MOVEMENT: It is a bit hard question to answer because this is our task that we must try to do more lobby to develop more corporations with the international community that can pressure on the Burmese regime for democratization process.
On the other hand, I think there is also a chance to reform and install democracy in Burma if we, all Burmese people can make the community level networks among individuals who are both outside and inside. I believe that will lead to efficient outcomes but it is of course hard.
BURMA DIGEST: You know, a lot of readers of our Burma Digest are worldwide campaigners for freedom in Burma. What advice would you give to them, from your experience? What would the main issues to focus on be?
SHWE GAS MOVEMENT: As you all know Burma is a part of the globe but under the Burmese military regime from 1962 to date our country has been being an isolated nation and out of global environment changing everyday. Moreover, some scholars have criticized that most Burmese politicians are insular. So, the primary aim of the worldwide campaigners should be to increase more corporations than before, which is not only to integrate Burma with the international community but also how to harmonize with all political activists for freedom of Burma.
Moreover, even though I do not want to call for here diversity of unity which is a bit cliché in the Burmese political arena now, I would like to say that we should focus on social capital especially associational social capital of how to build our plural society and how to build institutions among democratic forces for the future because we are facing institutional crisis and falling into the vicious cycle of factional conflicts.
BURMA DIGEST: What can we, citizens of the world, do in order to help your campaign and the cause of democracy in Burma?
SHWE GAS MOVEMENT: We would like to invite citizens of the world to visit our website www.shwe.org where you can find more detailed information about Shwe Gas movements of how you can help us.
BURMA DIGEST: Is there anything you would like to say to our readers?
SHWE GAS MOVEMENT: First of all, I would like to say so much appreciation for Burma Digest publishing that gives me chance to express about our Shwe gas campaign in this interview. And I would also like to say thank you very much to Burma digest readers.
Lastly, as you all know individual participation is the most important tool to do any change, we would cordially like to invite all concerned person to hand with us against this dirty investments in Burma.
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Comments:
Tha Hla Oo said _
Who is Dr. Rannin Soe?
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