HYDROCARBON EXTRACTION, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND
Date
2011-04-15
Authors
Hla, Tin Aung
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Abstract
The present military government of Myanmar (Burma) has been under worldwide
condemnation for its gross human rights violations and suppression of
democratic forces in the country since 1988 when it took over state power in the
name of restoring law and order. When multinational extractive companies such
as Total, Unocal, and Premier explored and exploited two natural gas reserves off
Myanmar coastal in Tenessarim province, the regime increased its already
infamous and systematic human rights abuses against indigenous people living
along the route of the pipeline. The purpose of this exploratory study was to
assess the magnitude of human rights abuse and related environmental
degradation, as well as to critically analyse the regime’s behaviour in relation to
local people, within the context of recommendations made by the World Bank’s
Extractive Industry Review (EIR). Based on documents and reports, Myanmar’s
regime regularly violates the EIR and in the process denies the basic human rights
of indigenous and local communities. The regime is also guilty of ecosystem
destruction, climate change, negation of traditional rights and traditional
livelihood systems, and disruption of local communities. Policy recommendations
are offered to mitigate Myanmar’s current unsustainable practices.
Description
MM - P&DM
Keywords
Hydrocarbon extraction, Human rights, Environmental impact studies, Myanmar