They called on Burma to suspend the pipeline to China for its negative impact

Bangkok, 1 mar ( EFE).- A group of Non-governmental organizations today called on the authorities of Burma (Myanmar) to suspend the construction of a gas pipeline and a pipeline to China until that is resolved its impact negative on the ecosystem and local communities.

“Call on the Government so that it postpone this project to protect the rights of communities and prevent the impacts within a sustainable development plan”, said the group in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Burmese, Thein Sein.

Shwe (“gold” in Burmese) project includes the exploitation of one of the largest deposits of gas in the world off the Burmese coast, as well as the construction of a gas pipeline and a pipeline to Yunnan province in South China.

Signatory organizations, including EarthRights International (ERI) and the International Federation of human rights (FIDH), have denounced that this project has led to an increase in the militarization and violations of the human rights of the local communities.

With the participation of companies from China, India, Korea and Burma, the exploration of gas in the coast of the State of Arakan began in 2003, while the construction of the pipeline and the pipeline was initiated in 2011 and is expected to complete in 2013.

Some calculations indicate that the exploitation of gas and the transportation of oil and gas to China can generate profits of $ 29,000 million in the next 30 years.

“Shwe deposits are only gas, but the pipes transported not only gas, but also Africa, Middle East and South America to China oil”, explained to Efe Shiwei Ye, director of FIDH to Southeast Asia.

“In June 2008, the national China Petroleum Corporation signed an agreement with the military junta to buy gas and build the gas pipeline currently under construction.” “Petro China has rights to distribute gas in Yunnan,” added.

The Group of NGOs reminded the Burmese President that his Government because it has suspended two projects, a dam in the Irrawaddy River and a central coal in the southeast of the country, due to its negative impact on the environment and social environment.

Among the signatories of the letter are numerous ethnic minority organisations Burmese as the karen, karenni and kachin, kaya shan. EFE