Groups petition against Myanmar pipeline

YANGON, Myanmar, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Human-rights groups urged China to halt its investment in a Myanmar gas project over fears of abuses and unrest.

The 609-mile Shwe gas pipeline project runs from Myanmar's Arakan state to China's Yunnan province. State-owned China National Petroleum Corp. holds a 50.9 stake in the project in partnership with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.

The Shwe pipeline construction was scheduled to begin in September.

Voice of America reports that more than 100 groups and political parties across 20 countries participated in the Shwe Gas Movement petition Wednesday to China's President Hu Jintao, presented to Chinese embassies in Asia, Australia and Europe.

"There are already reports of human-rights violations in Arakan state connected to the project's exploration phase, including arrests and beatings of fishermen, and abuses will escalate as the project progresses," the petition states.

Based on previous experiences in Myanmar, the petition points out, partnerships with the MOGE on infrastructure development projects "invariably" lead to forced displacement, forced labor and loss of livelihoods.

Myanmar was formerly known as Burma.

"The escalation of abuses around a project when Burma army soldiers provide security is well documented" by the United Nations and other NGOs, the petition says.

Rights groups say they expect the Shwe gas project would provide Myanmar's military with at least $29 billion over 30 years.

The petition notes that the country's 2007 uprising was ignited by sudden massive increases in fuel prices.

While the United States and other countries have imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar's government because of widespread rights abuses, China, India and Southeast Asian nations such as Thailand continue to invest in the country.

According to the petition, the pipeline would create a situation in which Chinese corporations and the partnering Myanmar army operating on the ground "will be responsible for rights abuses and uprooting livelihoods" in exporting huge amounts of oil and gas to China, while Myanmar's per capita electricity consumption is less than 5 percent of China's.

"This is a dangerous combination which could further fuel serious conflicts and anti-Chinese sentiment in Burma," the petition says.

Economist Somphob Manarangsan of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University said Thai and Chinese investment has aided the country's military government, Voice of America reports.

"Frankly speaking the Burmese government has become stronger economically on the foreign exchange they obtain in selling the natural gas to Thailand," said Manarangsan. He added that it is obvious that China has been aggressive in moving to invest in Myanmar, particularly in energy.