EarthRights Letter to Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Regarding Development Funds to Burma

EarthRights International (ERI) has written to Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to express our concern regarding a proposed aid grant to Burma (Myanmar), in the form of Official Development Assistance (ODA), for the repair of the Baluchaung Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Karenni State.  It is ERI's position that the Japanese Government would be sending the wrong message, indeed a message of support, to the Burmese military regime and signaling an acceptance of their oppressive policy towards opposition groups as well as their practice of brutal human rights abuses.

June 21, 2001

His Excellency Junichiro Koizumi
Prime Minister of Japan

RE: Concern on Disbursement of ODA to Baluchaung Hydroelectric Power Plant in Burma

Your Excellency,

EarthRights International (ERI) has learned from recent news reports that the Government of Japan has decided to provide an aid grant to Burma (Myanmar) as Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the repair of Baluchaung Hydroelectric Power Plant in Karenni State. We would like to express deep concern over the disbursal of such aid to Burma and request that the Japanese Government reconsider the grant at this time.

Burma's military regime, the State Peace and Development Council, rules the country using severe oppression towards any group or individual opposing it or calling for democratic reforms. The Burmese army also continues its widespread practice of committing egregious human rights abuses, particularly against ethnic minority groups. As of February 2001, there were no less than 130,000 refugees living in camps on the Thai-Burmese border. Additionally, there are hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people within Burma who are not able to receive relief aid from the international community.

Earlier this year, it was reported that a dialogue began between the military regime and the pro-democracy groups led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. However, the details of the dialogue have not been made public, and it is uncertain whether this dialogue will eventually lead to democratization. To date, there has been no serious indication of liberalization in the political arena.

Under these circumstances, the United States and the European Union countries have not relaxed their stance toward the regime, and are instead cautiously monitoring the progress of the dialogue and keeping their sanctions on Burma in place. The EU has expressed its intention to keep its sanctions on Burma, and last month the Bush Administration also renewed the federal economic sanctions that were enacted in 1997. Last month, the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell stated that the dialogue between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the military regime was "barely a ray of hope." He also specifically criticized the Japanese Government's grant to Baluchaung Power Plant, stating it was "not a proper investment to be making at this time, with this regime" (Reuters, May 15, 2001).

Furthermore, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank are not currently issuing new loans or grants to Burma. The International Labour Organization (ILO) also continues to pressure Burma to cease using forced labor. The ILO's unprecedented recent resolution calls on its constituents, including governments, to review projects with Burma that could contribute to the use of forced labor.

There is now a well-documented history that development projects in Burma lead directly to human rights violations and in many circumstances do not provide substantial benefit to many of the local communities. In fact, such projects can adversely impact local communities, sometimes devastating them. For example, ERI has documented widespread abuses surrounding the construction and security of the Yadana and Yetagun gas pipelines. Such abuses include violent acts, forced relocations, the use of porters and other forms of forced labor, and the use of landmines. ERI has similar evidence of abuses in the area of a proposed dam in Shan state. Forced labor surrounding dams, roads and other infrastructure projects over the last decade has been documented by the ILO and other international and nongovernmental organizations. The situation in Karenni State is no different, where there have been several major forced relocation programs, the use of landmines, and forced labor.

There is no reason to think that there have not been similar abuses surrounding the Baluchaung Power Plant. According to a report from the Burma Ethnic Research Group (BERG), there have been human rights abuses including forced labor and forced relocation in the area surrounding the power plant in relation to its construction. Several relevant passages from the report are enclosed for your further information. The report also states that during a recent drought, the local farmers were prohibited from drawing water from the area so that sufficient water would be secured for the hydroelectric plant. The report goes on to say that in 1998, the military regime started restricting the water supply for the local farmers drawing water from Mobye Dam in order to secure water for the power plant. As a result, farmers living downstream of Loikaw and Demawso were unable to plant crops. Thus, the specter of abuses without benefit to many local communities already surrounds the Baluchaung Power Plant.

By providing an aid grant to the Baluchaung Power Plant, the Japanese Government would be going against the prevailing trend of the international community. The Japanese Government would be sending the wrong message, indeed a message of support, to the Burmese military regime and signaling an acceptance of their oppressive policy towards opposition groups as well as their practice of brutal human rights abuses. For these reasons, we hope that you will take steps to reconsider the grant. Please contact me if you have any questions or if you would like any of our publications on the situation in Burma. We look forward to hearing from you soon on this matter.

Sincerely,

Tyler Giannini, Esq., Director

cc: Her Excellency Makiko Tanaka

enclosures

• U.S. objects to Japanese grant for Burma (Reuters, May 15, 2001)
• Nasty Regime: Watchword for Burma: Vigilance (Mitch McConnell*, The Asian Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2001) *U.S. Senator (Republican-Kentucky) and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
• Excerpts from Conflict and Displacement in Karenni: The Need for Considered Approaches (Burma Ethnic Research Group, May 2000)