Myanmar Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (MEITI) Report for the period April 2013- March 2014 Oil, Gas and Mining Sectors

The purpose of this Report is to reconcile the data provided by companies operating in the extractive sector (hereafter referred to as “Companies”) with the data provided by relevant Government Ministries and Bodies (hereinafter referred to as “Government Bodies”) […]

“Unsafe Natural Heritage” Photo Exhibition (1-3/11/2014)

Photo Exhibition titled “Unsafe Natural Heritage” was held at the office of Magway Region Farmer Union in Magway from 1st November to 3rd November, 2014, jointly organized by Magway Region Farmer Union and Badeidha Moe Civil Society Organization with the support of Ko Aung Kyaw Kyaw. The photos recorded are from 6 townships that Kyaukphyu-Kumin natural gas pipelines pass through.

Thein Sein and China Must Stop Pipeline Project to Prevent Escalation of Conflict in Northern Shan State

Shan community based groups warn that recent Burmese government army attacks in northern Shan State, causing displacement of over 3,000 villagers, are directly linked to China’s oil and gas pipelines, and urge Burmese President Thein Sein and China to stop the project immediately before violence escalates even further […]

Myanmar Lowest Ranking Nation in Resource Governance: Revenue Watch Institute

Myanmar was given the lowest resource governance ranking in the world according to a new index, released by the Revenue Watch Institute. The Shwe Gas Movement, which monitors Burmese natural resources, stated the result shows it is premature to invest in the resource rich […]

Burma: China-led Oil, Gas Projects Spark Arrests

Authorities in Burma should drop charges against ethnic Arakanese activists who participated in peaceful protests against Chinese-led oil and gas projects, Human Rights Watch said today. Ten activists are scheduled to face criminal charges in court on May 13, 2013, for demonstrating and holding […]

Statement by Local Residents at Ramree Island Regarding Shwe Gas Project, Deep Sea Port, and Oil and Gas Pipeline

Construction of Daewoo’s Shwe gas project, as well as CNPC’s Maday deep sea port and oil and gas pipeline have damaged our (local people’s) livelihoods and environment in Kyauk Phu Township since 2009. Additionally, there has been ongoing forcible land confiscation, providing no compensation or a limited amount of compensation for the confiscated rice farms and lands […]

Northern Shan Farmers Call for Chinese Pipelines to be Removed from their Lands

Northern Shan farmers are submitting demands to Burma’s government today for China’s giant oil and gas pipelines to be removed from their lands immediately, citing rights abuses, poor construction and safety fears.

Representatives of the 10,000 strong Northern Shan Farmers’ Committee are today delivering their demands to the Shan State Parliament in Taunggyi, urging the removal of the trans-Burma pipelines before they become operational next month […]

Local Communities and Supporters Express Concerns About Development Projects in Burma

As Thein Sein’s government takes small steps towards democratic transition, the people of Burma are expressing concerns about problematic development projects already underway. These projects, many of which are in ethnic states, directly contribute to human rights violations and increased militarization in project areas, as well as having negative social, economic and environmental impacts.

On 1 March, activists from Burma and around the world participated in a Global Day of Action against the Shwe Gas Pipeline Project that cuts across the country from western Arakan State to China. One hundred and thirty organizations from more than 20 countries signed an open letter to President Thein Sein calling for the suspension of the Shwe Gas project. The letter condemned the confiscation of thousands of acres of farmlands and restriction of access to traditional fishing areas for the project, as well as increased militarization and displacement along the pipeline corridor. The project will generate the country’s largest source of foreign revenue at US$29 billion over 30 years. Furthermore, the gas will be exported to China, while around 75% of the people in Burma do not receive electricity from the national grid […]

Campaigners Around the World Call to Postpone Destructive Chinese Pipelines in Burma

130 organizations over 20 countries today held demonstrations and submitted letters calling on Burma’s President Thein Sein to postpone China’s trans-Burma oil and gas pipelines project. The letter expressed serious concerns over human rights abuses as well as […]

Arakanese Take to the Streets to Demand Gas be Used for Arakan Electricity

Today over 250 Arakanese took to the streets in the state capital of Sittwe and across two townships, wearing t-shirts, pasting stickers and posters, demanding that natural gas from Arakan coastal waters be used to generate 24-hour electricity throughout the state before any is exported to China […]