Chiang Mai, Thailand, March 3 2006

Contact: Alisa Loveman, 06 1118 1382 or email

More than 16 groups representing a wide range of community interests in Burma this week sent an open letter to the Asian Development Bank asking them to strengthen their social and environmental standards.

As the Asian Development Bank begins an update process examining policies that guarantee limited environmental and social protection, Burma groups say that the Bank must seriously address their role of providing assistance to one of the most repressive military dictatorships in the world.

Although the ADB has not given any new loans to Burma since 1986, the ADB supports a range of regional projects which involve large-scale development projects in Burma.  

Two controversial projects include the Asian Highway component of the East-West Economic Corridor initiative, and the Ta Sang Dam on the Salween River of the proposed Mekong Power Grid. Amid a worsening human rights crisis in the country, the case of Burma points to the necessity of strong safeguard mechanisms for all institutions engaged in development financing, planning and implementation in Burma.

Chana Maung, Asia Director of human rights group, Earthrights International stated his organization had recently received “reports of coercion and forced labor related to the Asia Highway.”  One villager living near the highway route stated, “When I was forced to work on forced labour last year, I understood that we were being forced to work on the Asia highway. But, I did not tell about this to anyone because I was also afraid of be threatened and arrested.”

Another villager who was forced to work on the Asian highway said, “As for me, I would not like to support this road because it will be beneficial to the military government and Thai Companies only. Local businessmen and local people will not get any advantages from this road construction. On the other hand, we are also faced with forced labour and portering for construction of the road.”

Additionally, over 300,000 people have already been forcibly relocated from the Ta Sang dam area in Southern Shan State.  If built, the Ta Sang Dam will drive thousands more from their homes and will involve more forced relocations by the Burmese military.  Increased militarization has already led to an increase in reports of torture, extra judicial killing, and other human rights abuses in the Ta Sang area.  According to an elected and exiled Member of Parliament from Shan State, “The Ta Sang Dam in Shan State represents an extreme case of lack of public participation.  The military junta’s record on this issue is consistent. They will abuse or kill anyone who dissents.”

Burma groups have requested that the ADB seriously address their concerns regarding the ADB’s involvement with the military junta in Burma and improve ADB’s accountability, transparency, and protection of the most marginalized citizens of the ADB Developing Member Countries. 

• ERI Report: The East-West Economic Corridor: The Burma Road to Maldevelopment  

{mospagebreak heading=Press Release&title=Open Letter to ADB}

Open Letter to the ADB on the Safeguard Policy Update

February 27, 2006

Mr. Nessim Ahmad
Director of Environmental and Social Safeguard Division
Asian Development Bank

Dear Mr. Ahmad,

We are writing in regards to the Asian Development Bank’s Discussion Notes on the Safeguard policy update.  We would like to strongly urge the ADB to use this update as an opportunity to strengthen the existing safeguard policies that seek to avoid adverse environmental and social impacts.  We further press the bank to seriously address the specific concerns regarding the ADB’s involvement in Burma.

Although the ADB has not given any new loans to Burma since 1986, Burma does receive assistance from the ADB through regional technical assistance grants that are part of the GMS program. Since the ADB has significant involvement in pushing specific controversial economic development projects in the country, such as the Asian Highway of the “East-West Economic Corridor” and the Ta Sang Dam of the “Mekong Power Grid,” it is critical that the ADB uphold environmental and social standards for these projects.

For the Burma section of the Asian Highway, no social or environmental impact assessments have been completed or made publicly available. Moreover, local communities living in the project area in Burma have not been consulted about the project.  Additionally, ERI has received concerning reports of forced labor related to the Highway.

In addition, over 300,000 people have already been forcibly relocated from the Ta Sang dam area in Southern Shan State.  If built, the Ta Sang Dam will drive thousands more from their homes and will involve more forced relocations by the Burmese military.  Increased militarization has already led to an increase in reports of torture, extra judicial killing, and other human rights abuses in the Ta Sang area.

Presently, there is no way to hold the ADB accountable for their part in the human rights abuses and environmental destruction that is occurring in Burma due to the Bank’s regional technical assistance grants and resources used to mobilize private financing. As a public institution with a development mandate, the ADB should strengthen its environmental and social standards and hold the ADB management accountable for non-project forms of lending. The ADB should:

• Expand safeguard policies to apply to Regional Technical Assistance Grants and non-project related assistance.  If safeguard policy compliance is not met under these forms of assistance, the ADB should provide the option of filing a complaint under the accountability mechanism.
• Include environmental and human rights organizations working for Burma in the safeguard policy update’s regional consultations with NGO’s from the Greater Mekong Subregion.
• Develop comprehensive social and environmental policy frameworks that demonstrate a commitment to sustainable development and poverty reduction that protects the rights of all affected communities.

There is a fundamental lack of accountability for safeguard compliance in regards to the ADB’s involvement in Burma. We hope that you will provide leadership to ensure the rights of the weakest and most marginalized citizens of the ADB Developing Member Countries are not violated by ADB operations. We urge you to ensure accountability and to communicate the importance of strong social and environmental standards to ADB’s management, staff, borrowers, and donors.

Sincerely,

Earthrights International- Southeast Asia

CC: ADB Board of Executive Directors, President, Mekong Department, and NGO Center

Endorsed By the Following Organizations:

1. Images Asia Environment- Desk
2. Karen Environmental and Social Action Network
3. Nationalities Youth Forum

(a) Arakan Youth Network Group
(b) All Kachin Students and Youth Union
(c) Khin Student Union
(d) Kayan New Generation Youth
(e) Karenni National Youth Organization
(f) Mon Unity League and Mon Human Rights Foundation
(g) Lahu Youth Democratic Organization
(h) Palaung Youth Network Group
(i) Pa-O Youth Organization

4. Karen Rivers Watch

(a) Karen Youth Organization
(b) Karen Women Organization
(c) Federation Trade Union of Kawthoolei
(d) Karen Student Network Group
(e) Karen Office for Relief and Development

5. ERSU
6. Lahu National Development Organization
7. Human Rights Foundation of Monland
8. Shan Sapawa Environmental Organization
9. Forum for Democracy in Burma
10. National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB)
11. Australia Karen Youth Project
12. SOLIDAMOR (Solidarity Without Borders)
13. Altsean-Burma
14. Human Rights Education Institute of Burma
15. Network for Democracy and Development
16. Canadian Friends of Burma