Natural Resources in Burma

Natural Resources in Natural Resources in BurmaBurma

ASEAN Peoples ForumASEAN Peoples Forum

Key point of presentation Key point of presentation

1. Rapid natural resource extraction in Burma 1. Rapid natural resource extraction in Burma done in the name of development is destroying done in the name of development is destroying and depleting Burma’s rich natural resources. and depleting Burma’s rich natural resources.

2. Burmese people are forced to bear all of the 2. Burmese people are forced to bear all of the negative impacts and are not benefiting from negative impacts and are not benefiting from this so called ‘development.’ this so called ‘development.’

3. Most of the resources are being exported for 3. Most of the resources are being exported for use in ASEAN countries and citizens in use in ASEAN countries and citizens in ASEAN countries are also forced to bear cross ASEAN countries are also forced to bear cross border negative impacts resulting from this border negative impacts resulting from this unregulated development. unregulated development.

Background Information of BurmaBackground Information of Burma

Asian Ecological & cultural zonesAsian Ecological & cultural zones

Wealth of natural resources (timber, minerals, Wealth of natural resources (timber, minerals, rivers, oil and gas, fertile land, gems…)rivers, oil and gas, fertile land, gems…)

Without any protection of resourcesWithout any protection of resources

Brutal dictatorshipBrutal dictatorship

Worst human right violatorsWorst human right violators

The use of natural resources in The use of natural resources in BurmaBurma

Compared to rest of ASEAN countries still has Compared to rest of ASEAN countries still has many rich natural resources. Has some of the many rich natural resources. Has some of the regions last remaining untouched ecological regions last remaining untouched ecological treasures and internationally recognized treasures and internationally recognized biodiversity hotspots. Endangered species, biodiversity hotspots. Endangered species, endemic plants, etc. Suffers from the endemic plants, etc. Suffers from the ‘Resource Curse’‘Resource Curse’

Currently natural resources rapidly being Currently natural resources rapidly being extracted to fuel economic growth in extracted to fuel economic growth in neighboring countries (Thailand, Vietnam, neighboring countries (Thailand, Vietnam, India and China in particular)India and China in particular)

Natural resource extraction in Burma is Natural resource extraction in Burma is completely unregulatedcompletely unregulated

The Important Role of Irrawaddy & The Important Role of Irrawaddy & Salween RiversSalween Rivers

Irrawaddy is main useful and longest river in Irrawaddy is main useful and longest river in Burma which flow through from the North to Burma which flow through from the North to south at the central of Burma.south at the central of Burma.

The Salween is the longest The Salween is the longest undammedundammed river river in mainland Southeast Asia and the 26 longest in mainland Southeast Asia and the 26 longest rivers in the world flowing across China, Burma rivers in the world flowing across China, Burma and Thailand.and Thailand.

Millions of people depend on it as their Millions of people depend on it as their livelihood, cultural, communication, livelihood, cultural, communication, transportation, cultivation, etc..transportation, cultivation, etc..

The delta of Irrawaddy is the main rice The delta of Irrawaddy is the main rice production of the country. production of the country.

Proposed the Dam in BurmaProposed the Dam in Burma

Who get the benefit from Who get the benefit from infrastructure developmentinfrastructure development

- Electricity generation authority of ThailandElectricity generation authority of Thailand- MDX Public Company LimitedMDX Public Company Limited- Chinese CompanyChinese Company- Burmese Junta GovernmentBurmese Junta Government

Overview of Impacts from rapid resource Overview of Impacts from rapid resource extractionextraction

No Environmental Impact Assessment or Social No Environmental Impact Assessment or Social Impact Assessment, no public participation, no Impact Assessment, no public participation, no information disclosureinformation disclosure

DeforestationDeforestation Water pollution (ex. Gold mining in Kachin State)Water pollution (ex. Gold mining in Kachin State) Forced relocation (from infrastructure development Forced relocation (from infrastructure development

project)project) Plantations and mono-cropping leading to loss of Plantations and mono-cropping leading to loss of

biodiversity and soil degradationbiodiversity and soil degradation Destruction of internationally recognized Destruction of internationally recognized

biodiversity hotspots from logging, dams (flooding), biodiversity hotspots from logging, dams (flooding), and mining and mining

Cross Border ImpactsCross Border Impacts

Migration- eg. Gas pipeline and damsMigration- eg. Gas pipeline and dams Cross border illegal trade (gems, Cross border illegal trade (gems,

timber, and animals)timber, and animals) Environmental RefugeesEnvironmental Refugees Spread infection diseaseSpread infection disease Climate change and water/air Climate change and water/air

pollutionpollution

For majority benefit the minority have to be For majority benefit the minority have to be scarifiedscarified

Local people have no benefit from the mega Local people have no benefit from the mega project, instead they are sitting targets for project, instead they are sitting targets for continued extortion by the authoritycontinued extortion by the authority

Have had to leave from their homeland Have had to leave from their homeland

and fieldand field Become refugee, wage labors, illegal migrant Become refugee, wage labors, illegal migrant

worker, Internal Displace Persons.worker, Internal Displace Persons. Inadequate housing, sanitation, safe drinking Inadequate housing, sanitation, safe drinking

water, food or medical carewater, food or medical care

Human Rights Abuse in BurmaHuman Rights Abuse in Burma

Burning and looting of villagesBurning and looting of villages Forced relocation,Forced relocation, Systematic sexual violence,Systematic sexual violence, Extra-judicial killing Extra-judicial killing Forced Labour Forced Labour Land Confiscation Land Confiscation Militarilization and oppression Militarilization and oppression

Construction of the dam and associated infrastructure is Construction of the dam and associated infrastructure is highly likely to involve the massive use of forced laborhighly likely to involve the massive use of forced labor

since 1996, over 2,500 villages totaling over since 1996, over 2,500 villages totaling over 800,000 people relocated in eastern ethnic 800,000 people relocated in eastern ethnic

states of Burmastates of Burma

MilitalizationMilitalizationEven feasibility studies required an increased military Even feasibility studies required an increased military

presence at and around the proposed dam site.presence at and around the proposed dam site.

Increased militarization also leads to increased instances Increased militarization also leads to increased instances of human rights violations of human rights violations

Over the past decade, the regime has increased the Over the past decade, the regime has increased the size of its army from 180,000 to over 400,000 troopssize of its army from 180,000 to over 400,000 troops

In Shan State alone, there are now at least 150 In Shan State alone, there are now at least 150 battalions, with well over 100,000 troops. battalions, with well over 100,000 troops.

Rape and increased militarization are closely connected Rape and increased militarization are closely connected when more soldiers are deployed in an areawhen more soldiers are deployed in an area

Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts DeforestationDeforestation FloodingFlooding Erosion Erosion Physical changes of water waysPhysical changes of water ways Loss of species ( animals and plants)Loss of species ( animals and plants) Climate Change Climate Change DiseaseDisease Affective to Water DiversionAffective to Water Diversion Earthquake Earthquake

The dam project will inevitable lead to clear The dam project will inevitable lead to clear failure in remaining biodiversity ancient failure in remaining biodiversity ancient

forestsforests

ConclusionConclusion

Re-state the Key PointRe-state the Key Point As we have seen from these examples As we have seen from these examples

and Dam on the Irrawaddy and other and Dam on the Irrawaddy and other places in Burma, rapid natural resource places in Burma, rapid natural resource extraction in Burma is destroying extraction in Burma is destroying Burma’s rich natural resources and Burma’s rich natural resources and Burma’s people and people in ASEAN Burma’s people and people in ASEAN are forced to bear all of the negative are forced to bear all of the negative impacts resulting from this unregulated impacts resulting from this unregulated development. development.

How Can We Take Action Together How Can We Take Action Together

pressure ASEAN member governments to adopt real pressure ASEAN member governments to adopt real sustainable development policies that calculate and sustainable development policies that calculate and mitigate cross border impacts and environmental mitigate cross border impacts and environmental externalitiesexternalities

Lobby ASEAN member government to stop illegal Lobby ASEAN member government to stop illegal cross border trade that results in natural resource cross border trade that results in natural resource degradation in the regiondegradation in the region

Lobby ASEAN governments to adopt policies for Lobby ASEAN governments to adopt policies for projects in other countries to include affected projects in other countries to include affected communities in the decision making process and follow communities in the decision making process and follow international environmental and social standardsinternational environmental and social standards

Lobby ASEAN governments to negotiate with the Lobby ASEAN governments to negotiate with the SPDC to recognize community land rightsSPDC to recognize community land rights

Recommendations to ASEAN leadersRecommendations to ASEAN leaders

• ASEAN countries should work to develop ASEAN countries should work to develop policies to conserve non-renewable resources in policies to conserve non-renewable resources in the region the region

• There should be a regional review of cross There should be a regional review of cross border impacts of natural resource extractionborder impacts of natural resource extraction

• ASEAN should use its function to pressure the ASEAN should use its function to pressure the companies and the SPDC to require companies and the SPDC to require Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) for natural Social Impact Assessment (SIA) for natural resource extraction projects resource extraction projects