On April 18, 2006, thousands of activists from around the world stood up for human rights and environmental protection by protesting the Shwe Gas Project in Burma. Human rights activists in over 20 countries around the world gathered at local South Korean Embassies and Daewoo Offices to protest the Shwe Gas Project.
On April 18, 2006, join thousands of activists from around the world to stand up for human rights and environmental protection by protesting the Shwe Gas Project in Burma. Human rights activists in over 20 countries around the world will gather at local South Korean Embassies and Daewoo Offices to protest the Shwe Gas Project.
Current information suggests the Shwe Gas Project will result in the construction of two overland natural gas pipelines in Burma: one to India and one to China. The pipeline to India will especially affect the people of Arakan and Chin States, Burma. The proposed China pipeline will travel through Burma’s “dry zone” where approximately 25 per cent of Burma’s population resides.
Download "No Way, No Shwe!" Brochure 725.98 Kb
Why Should You Oppose the Shwe Gas Project?
April 18 is the International Day of Action:
April 18 is the International Day of Action for the Shwe Gas Project. We will stand in solidarity with Burma’s victims of severe and systematic human rights violations and environmental destruction. We will tell Daewoo International and the governments of South Korea, China, and India that their involvement with Burma’s military junta in the Shwe Gas Project is unacceptable. We will tell them that they will be held responsible for any violations associated with the project.
On April 18 there will be direct actions in various cities in over twenty countries, including South Korea, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, United States of America, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, South Africa, and Timor Leste.
Activists in these respective countries will gather at their local South Korean Embassy and Daewoo International offices in protest of the Shwe Gas Project.
Background on the Shwe Gas Project:
In August 2000 the Korea-based company Daewoo International became contractual partners with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), a subsidiary of the notoriously repressive and brutal Burmese military junta. Four years later in 2004, Daewoo International announced that they had discovered a “world class commercial scale gas deposit” off the west coast of Burma in the Bay of Bengal. The A1 Block gas deposit in the Bay of Bengal, one of the six blocks of gas being explored and developed, holds 2.88 million to 3.56 trillion cubic feet of gas that is valued at over $US80 billion.
The gas in A1 and other blocks in the Bay of Bengal will be developed by an international consortium of private and state-owned companies from South Korea and India in partnership with Burma’s military junta. In Korea, Daewoo International is the largest stakeholder with a 60 per cent share. Korean Oil and Gas (KOGAS), a Korean state-owned company, holds a 10 per cent share. In India, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) holds a 20 per cent share, and the Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) a 10 per cent share.
For two years the gas was presumed to be destined for India. In early December 2005 a memorandum of understanding was signed by the Burmese military junta to sell the Shwe gas to PetroChina, a privately owned Chinese oil and gas company. Preliminary plans include construction of a gas pipeline to Kunming in China’s Yunnan Province through central Burma. This area is home to some of Burma’s most pressing humanitarian concerns.
The Burmese military junta has guaranteed that Burma’s natural gas deposits are plentiful enough to supply both India and China. India recently hired Suz Tractebel, a Brussels-based consulting firm, to conduct a feasibility study for pipeline construction bypassing Bangladesh. If the Shwe Gas Project continues there will be two pipelines - one to China, the other to India.
Who is Responsible?
In their partnership with Burma’s military junta on this project, Daewoo International and the governments of South Korea, India, and China are all working against the interests of democracy, human rights, environmental rights, and environmental protection in Burma. Any government, company, or financial institution involved in the Shwe Gas Project perpetuates the severe environmental and human rights abuses that the people of Burma suffer under Burma’s military junta.
A Painful History:
Environmental and human rights abuses associated with pipeline construction in Burma are not new. The Burmese government in the early 1990s partnered with the US-based company UNOCAL and Total of France to construct the Yadana-Yetagun pipelines through southern Burma. These pipelines had disastrous affects on local people of Burma, leading to increased militarization and systematic human rights abuses by the Burmese military junta. Forced labor was widely used along the pipeline route to build access roads, helipads, and military barracks. Land was confiscated from local farmers and communities were forcibly relocated. In addition, soldiers committed rape, torture, and extrajudicial killings in the area of the pipelines. For more information on these previous pipelines and their similarity to the Shwe Gas Project, please see EarthRights International’s web article Another Yadana available at www.earthrights.org.
All of these systematic violations continue to this day even after completion of the pipelines.
Reason for Hope:
In an unprecedented victory for human rights and the suffering people of Burma, Unocal Corporation agreed to compensate Burmese villagers who sued them in US Courts for complicity in forced labor, rape and murder associated with the construction of the Yadana gas pipeline. This settlement hinged on the fact that Unocal knew that Burma’s military junta had a poor human rights record prior to partnering with them on the energy project. Courts found Unocal was potentially liable for the severe abuses directly associated with the pipeline project of which they were the largest stakeholder. The Shwe Gas Movement believes that Daewoo International and its partners in the Shwe Gas Project also have full knowledge of the Burmese military junta’s ongoing human rights abuses associated with development projects. Daewoo’s partnership with the military junta will not go unnoticed.
This Will Be the 2nd International Day of Action:
October 14, 2005, was the fist Day of Action. Activists in South Korea, the United States, India, Timor-Leste, the United Kingdom, Japan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, The Netherlands, and Burma stood up for human rights and environmental protection, protesting Daewoo International and the state-owned Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) for their involvement in the Shwe Gas Project. The epicenter was Seoul, Korea where Daewoo International is based. There were 14 protest actions in 10 countries. Each protest received substantial press coverage. International Days of Action against Daewoo International and the Shwe Gas Project will continue and grow wider until appropriate attention is given to the human and environmental rights of the struggling people of Burma.
What Can You Do?
Become an organizer by contacting us at globalaction@shwe.org or connect with a contact from the list below, then:
Demonstrate in front of your local South Korea Embassy/Consulate and Daewoo International offices on April 18. (Find the addresses below)
Contact Daewoo International Offices and the South Korean Embassy/Consulate. (Find the contact information below, including e-mail addresses)
Collect letters, postcards and petition signatures and send them to Daewoo International offices and the S. Korean Embassy/Consulate. Please remember to email copies to globalaction@shwe.org
Hold roundtable talks, meetings, and letter writing parties to take future action against Daewoo International.
Take photos of your rally/ event/ activity and email them to globalaction@shwe.org
{mospagebreak heading=Call to Action&title=International Coordinators}
Thailand
EarthRights International (SEAsia)
www.earthrights.org: infoasia@earthrights.org
Aung Marm Oo, All Arakan Students’ and Youth Congress (AASYC)
aasyc.hq@gmail.com; aung_marm_oo@yahoo.com
USA
EarthRights International (Washington D.C.)
www.earthrights.org;infousa@earthrights.org
Edith Mirante (Portland)
maje@hevanet.com
Tyler Giannini (Boston)
giannini@harvard.law.edu
Elie Halpern (Seattle)
ehalpern@aol.com
South Korea
Zaw Moe Aung
zmakorea@yahoo.com
Bangladesh
Tun Maung Thein, All Arakan Students’ and Youth Congress (AASYC)
aasyc.bd@gmail.com
Arakan National Council (ANC)
anc_bd@yahoo.com
Philippines
Gani
gani@iidnet.org
United Kingdom
Maung Maung
maungkhinemonnzan@yahoo.co.uk
Khing Moe Zan
yekyaw1975@yahoo.co.uk
Lwin Paing
khinemaungmaung@yahoo.co.uk
India
Burma Campaign India
burmacampaign_india@yahoo.com
Netherlands
Nyi Nyi Htay
nyinyihtwe96@yahoo.com
Japan
Hla Aye Maung
danya_thurein@yahoo.com
Min Aung
aldyouthjpn@yahoo.com
France
Maung Hla Aung
aungparis@yahoo.com
Canada
Canadian Friends of Burma
jameel@cfob.org
Australia
Nai Thet Naing Mon
naingthet@hotmail.com
Hong Kong
Reiko Harima
reiko@asian-migrants.org
For more information online, see The Shwe Gas Movement: www.shwe.org.
For detailed Contact Information for Korean Embassies and Daewoo International Offices please see below:
{mospagebreak heading=Call to Action&title=Korean Embassies}
Korean Embassy in Bangledesh
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
4 Madani Avenue Baridhara,
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Tel : (880-2) 881-2088
Fax : (880-2) 882-3871
Korean Embassy in Belgium
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
haussee de la Hulpe 173-175, 1170
Brussels, Belgium
Tel : (32-2) 675-5777
Fax : (32-2) 675-5221
Korean Embassy in Canada
http://www.emb-korea.ottawa.on.ca
150 Boteler Street,
Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 5A6, Canada
Tel : (1-613) 244-5010
Fax : (1-613) 244-5034
Korean Embassy in Denmark
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
Svanem llevej 104,
2900 Hellerup, Denmark
Tel : (45) 3946-0400
Fax : (45) 3946-0422
Korean Embassy in France
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
125 rue de Grenelle,
75007 Paris, France
Tel : (33-1) 4753-0101
Fax : (33-1) 4753-0041
Korean Embassy in Germany
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
Schoeneberger Ufer 89-91,
10785 Berlin, Germany
Tel : (49-30) 26065-0
Fax : (49-30) 26065-51
Korean Embassy in The Netherlands
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
Verlengde Tolweg 8, 2517 JV,
The Hague, The Netherlands
Tel. No.(31-70) 358-6076
Fax No.(31-70) 350-4712
Korean Embassy in New Zealand
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
11th Floor, ASB Bank Tower, 2 Hunter Street, Wellington, New Zealand
Tel. No.(64-4) 473-9073
Fax No.(64-4) 472-3865
Korean Embassy in Norway
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
nkognitogaten 3, 0244
Oslo, Norway
Tel. No.(47) 22552018
Fax No.(47) 22561411
Korean Embassy in South Africa
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
Greenpark Estates Bldg. #3,
27 George Storrar Drive, Groenkloof
Pretoria, South Africa
Tel. No.(27-12) 460-2508
Fax No.(27-12) 460-1158
Korean Embassy in Sweden
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
Laboratoriegatan 10, 115 27
Stockholm, Sweden
Tel. No.(46-8) 660-0330
Fax No.(46-8) 660-2818
Korean Embassy in United Kingdom
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
0 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AJ,
United Kingdom
Tel. No. (44-20) 7227-5500
Fax No.(44-20) 7227-5503
Korean Embassy in India
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
9, Chandragupta Marg,
Chanakyapuri Extension,
New Delhi-110021, India
Tel: (91-11) 688-5412
Fax: (91-11) 688-4840
Korean Embassy in Japan
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
1-2-5, Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku
Tokyo, Japan
Tel: (81-3) 3452-7611
Fax: (81-3) 5476-3212
Republic of Korea Embassy In Washington, D.C.
2450 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 939-5600
Fax: (202) 797-0595
Email: consular_usa@mofat.go.kr
URL: http://www.koreaembassy.org/
{mospagebreak heading=Call to Action&title=Korean Consulates in the US}
Republic of Korea Consulate General In Washington D.C.
2320 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 939-5654
Fax: (202) 342-1597
Republic of Korea Consulate General In New York, NY (Main Office)
335 E. 45th Street, 4th Floor
New York NY 10017
Tel: (646) 674-6000 and (212) 692-9120
Fax: (646) 674-6023
URL: http://www.koreanconsulate.org/
Republic of Korea Consulate General In New York, NY (Visa Section)
460 Park Avenue, 57th Street, 6th Floor,
New York NY 10022
Tel: (646) 674-6000
Fax: (646) 674-6023
Republic of Korea Consulate General In San Francisco,CA
3500 Clay StreetSan Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 921-2251
Fax: (415) 912-5946
Republic of Korea Consulate General In Los Angeles, CA
3243 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel: (213) 385-9300
Fax: (213) 385-1849
Republic of Korea Consulate General In Boston, MA
One Gateway Center 2nd Floor
Newton MA 02458
Tel: (617) 641-2830 Fax: (617) 641-2831
Republic of Korea Consulate General In Chicago,IL
NBC Tower, Suite 2700
455 North City Front Plaza Dr.
Chicago IL 60611
Tel: (312) 822-9485
Fax: (312) 822-9849
Republic of Korea Consulate General In Seattle WA
2033 Sixth Avenue, #1125
Seattle, WA 98121
Tel: (206) 411-1011
Fax: (206) 441-7912
Republic of Korea Consulate General In Atlanta, GA
229 Peachtree Street, Suite 500
International Tower, Atlanta GA 30303
Republic of Korea Consulate General In Houston, TX
1990 Post Oak Blvd., #1250
Houston TX 77056
Republic of Korea Consulate General In Honolulu, HI
2756 Pali Highway
Honolulu HI 96817
Tel: (808) 595-6109
Fax: (808) 595-3046
{mospagebreak heading=Call to Action&title=Daewoo Int. Offices}
Daewoo International New Jersey
85 Challenger Road
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660-2114
Tel: 1-201-229-4500
Fax: 1-201-229-4538
ynma@dwa.daewoo.com
Daewoo International Corp.
Talcahuano 833, Piso 7 - F
(C1013AAQ) Cap. Fed.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tel: 54-11)4816-3201
Fax: 54-11)4815-1158
stkim@daewoo.com.ar
Daewoo Italia S.r.l. (Milano)
Centro Direzionale Colleoni Palazzo Liocorno (A3) Via Paracelso 6
20041 Agrate Brianza (MI), Italia
Daewoo Int’l London Branch Office (London)
10th Floor CI Tower ST.Georges Square,
New Malden, Surrey KT3 4HH, United Kingdom
Tel: 44-208-336-9131~3
Fax: 44-208-949-3783
iplee@daewoo.co.uk
Daewoo Int'l(Japan) Corp.Osaka Br.
NIHON SEIMEI YODOYABASHI BLDG, 8Th Fl.
5-29, 3-Chome, KITAHAMA, CHUO-KU,
Osaka, 541-0041 Japan
Tel: 81-6-6222-0848~9
Fax: 81-6-6222-0865
khlee@daewoo.co.jp
Daewoo Int’l (Deutchland) GmbH
Im Atzelnest 3, 61352 Bad Homburg
Postfach 1325, Germany
Tel: 49-6172-27959~0
Fax: 49-6172-27959-99
kwchang@daewoo-intl.de
Daewoo (M) Sdn Bhd (Kuala Lumpur)
Suite 308, 3rd Floor,
Kenanga International, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 60-3-2161-8033
Fax: 60-3-2161-5790
tjeong@daewoo-kl.com.my
Daewoo Int’l Corp. New Delhi Office
4/6, First Floor,
Sirifort Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110049, India
Tel: 91-11-649-8201~3
Fax: 91-11-649-5387, 4792
park@daewooi.com
Daewoo Int'l(Japan)Corp. Nagoya Branch
6F,NAGOYA HIROKOJI Bldg 3-1,SAKAE 2CHOME, NAKA-KU.
Nagoya, 460-0008 Japan
Tel: 81-52-222-3717
Fax: 81-52-222-3719
ktyoon@daewoo.co.jp
Daewoo Int'l(Japan)Corp. Nagoya Branch
6F,NAGOYA HIROKOJI Bldg 3-1,SAKAE 2CHOME, NAKA-KU.
Nagoya, 460-0008 Japan
Tel: 81-52-222-3717
Fax: 81-52-222-3719
ktyoon@daewoo.co.jp
Daewoo (Bangladesh) Co. Ltd.
BRAC Center(7 th Floor) 75, Mohakhali C/A, Dhaka-1212.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Tel: 880-2-9881316-21,9882174
Fax: 880-2-882984, 9882173
mkcho@bdmail.net
Daewoo Int’l Corporation
UNIT 1901-1902, M.Thai Tower, All Seasons Place,
87 Wireless Road,
Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330,Thailand
Tel: 66-2-654-0124~8
Fax: 66-2-654-0129
csnam@daewoothailand.com
Daewoo International Corp. Australia Representative Office
Suite 2 Level 4, 621 Pacific Highway St. Leonards,
NSW 2065 Australia
Tel: 61-2-9906-7355
Fax: 61-2-9906-7588
cipark@daewoo.com
The power of law and the power of people
in defense of human rights and the environment.
© Copyright 1995-2011, EarthRights International
ERI staff, February 2010
Follow EarthRights International on Twitter
