Environmental destruction and human rights violation

KANBAUK MYAINGKALAY GAS PIPELINE

(By Banya Hongsar)

November 4, 2003 -- The ruling military authority of Burma has boosted its budget after gaining a contract with foreign investors to do business in the Yadana Gas Fields in Burma.

Currently, the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), a business body of Ministry of Energy, built its own natural gas production project from Kanbauk village of Tenasserim region to Myaingkalay village of Karen State. Local human rights organizations and news agencies have reported the occurrence of human rights violations resulting from the development project managed by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the current ruling authority in Burma.

Human Rights Foundation of Monland reported that people who have fruit trees, rubber plantations, and farmlands in east part of Moulmein-Tavoy motor road in Ye Township, Mon State, are ordered to stay away from their farms for security reasons, the report released in November 2001.

According to the report, the SPDC plans to bring gas from the Yadana gas field through Kanbauk's onshore pipeline in Yebyu Township of Tenasserim Division to provide energy for a cement factory in Myaingkalay, Pa-an Township of Karen State. However, Total FinaElf in Myanmar proudly declared to the world that "Total has allowed us to sleep without fear" reported by Collaborative for Development body.

The "Mon Forum", a monthly report of Human Rights Foundation of Monland, covered a second report related to human rights violations on the gas pipeline construction. According to the paper, on June 11, 2002, the commander of LIB No 586, Col. Ngwe Soe forced villagers in the southern part of Ye Township to clear the weed and small trees along one part of Kanbauk-Myaingkalay gas pipeline. The southern part of Ye area is still regarded as a "brown area" by the Burmese troops where no outsiders or NGO workers are able to visit for human right monitoring.

According to the Mon Forum, on July 29, 2002, Burmese Army's LIB No.31 commander Major. Lu Aye called a meeting with headmen from thirty villages in the southern Mudon Township and Thanphyuzayat Township in their (military) base in Thanphyuzayat Town. They discussed the security of the gas pipeline. Mudon and Thanphyuzayat areas are regarded as "white areas" by the government. A local Mon mini-administrative committee under New Mon State Party has little power in dealing with human rights prevention matters. The party has no benefit on the project and has failed to protect the rights of farmers and landowners.

In January 19, 2003, Mudon Township authorities ordered the villagers from all villagers along Kanbauk-Myaingkalay to increase the number of guards along the route. But the village headmen from the area collected money from the civilians and hired the villagers to guard in the pipeline, The Mon Forum reports in January 2003.

Mon Human rights workers and defenders working inside Mon State have reported back to border based news organization. Similar human rights violations continue in the community.

In February 2003, Burmese Army's IB No. 62 based in Thanphyuzayat Township ordered the villagers in southern part of Township areas to clear bushes along Kanbauk-Myaingkalay gas pipeline route and to fence in the area along the route to prevent attacks from the rebel soldiers. The villagers have to find bamboo and other materials, said the report.

Violence against women is among the worst reported HR cases in Mon State along the gas construction site. In late February 20003, when a Mon woman, Miss Ma Po (17 years old) was performing the duty (as unpaid security guard for the gas construction), she was raped by a commander from the Burmese Army.

Human Rights Foundation of Monland has followed the development of Kanbauk-Myaingkalay gas production for over three years.

The Tatmadaw Oo Pine Ltd of Burma Army deals with a Japanese company, drug lord U Khun Sa and Zakabar Company to invest in the operation of the Myaingkalay cement factory which raises serious human rights and environmental concerns in Mon and Karen States.