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Image courtesy of Oil Change International |
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EarthRights International (ERI) calls on the oil and gas industry to help stop the military’s abuses. The recent protests, in which up to 100,000 people thronged the streets of Rangoon and 26 other cities, were the largest challenge to the military since 1988, when thousands were killed after mass protests were brutally suppressed. According to Ka Hsaw Wa, ERI’s Executive Director, who was a student leader in those protests:
“As someone who experienced this regime’s brutality in 1988, I am glad that this time around, the world is watching. But that is not enough. The international community, including multinational corporations, must act now to prevent further bloodshed in Burma. The people have suffered profoundly for too long—they have already sacrificed so much, and they will not stop.”
The protests began on August 19th, when the military’s decision to
sharply increase the price of natural gas and other fuels sent
shockwaves through the economy. The military has recently responded
with violence, killing at least several protestors (including monks)
and arresting hundreds more. But the oil and gas corporations
themselves, who are partnered with the military government in gas
export projects, have shown no sign of trying to prevent further
bloodshed. Instead, Daewoo International and the Thai gas company
PTTEP initially announced plans to export more of Burma’s natural gas,
and on September 25 PTTEP issued a statement assuring the public that
their investment was not jeopardized by the unrest. A third company,
India’s ONGC Videsh, along with India’s Petroleum Minister Murli Deora,
traveled to Burma amidst the protests to sign three new deals to
extract and export natural gas. And Chevron Corporation, the largest
remaining U.S. company in Burma, has only issued a statement.
“The corporations who can influence the military junta know who they
are. They must pressure the regime to maintain peace, and respect the
rights to speech and association of the people of Burma. Instead,
however, they are pursuing their business interests while people’s
lives are at stake,” added Chana Maung, Director of ERI Southeast Asia. “The
regime has resorted to violence against the peaceful protestors, and
the companies now also have blood on their hands, but it is not too
late for them to act.”
According to ERI Burma Program Coordinator Naing Htoo, “Whether
they like it or not, the companies are not socially or politically
neutral in the current unrest in Burma. They say that their presence in
Burma helps, not hurts, our people. It’s time for them to put their
money where their mouth is.”
For example, Chevron, through its takeover of Unocal, is a partner with
the junta in the notorious Yadana natural gas pipeline project.
Unocal's construction of that project involved mass forced labor and
other human rights abuses, committed by the army on Unocal's behalf.
Moreover, Chevron Corporation is one of the largest foreign investors
in Burma. Their Yadana project funnels tens of millions of dollars to
the regime, money the military desperately needs to retain its
stranglehold on power. Despite Chevron's material support for the
regime, and direct complicity in extensive human rights abuses, Chevron
claims that it can play a positive role in contributing to the
protection of human rights. Empty
rhetoric is not a substitute for action, however, and now is the time
for action. Given Unocal/Chevron's shameful behavior thus far, Chevron
owes the people of Burma a moral obligation to immediately use its
influence with the regime to help prevent the mass slaughter of
peaceful protestors. Click here to read ERI's letter to Chevron CEO Dave O'Reilly.
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