ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

by Salai Pi Pi | Delhi – The South Korean government has rejected a complaint filed by a rights group against two Korean energy companies' gas projects in Burma that accused them of breaching standards set by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) of which South Korea is a member state.

EarthRights International, an environmental rights organisation, said the Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) has turned-down its complaint that accuses Daewoo International and Korea Gas (KOGAS) of breaking the guidelines of OECD in its gas exploration projects in military-ruled Burma.

Wong Aung, coordinator of the Shwe Gas Movement, an activists group that has been protesting against Burmese military rulers rampant exploitation of the country's natural resources including oil and gas, said EarthRights represented them in sending their complaint against Daewoo and KOGAS to the Korean government.

"They [MEK] rejected the complaint about the gas exploration and developing project of two Korean corporations in Burma saying it is in keeping with the OECD guidelines," Wong Aung told Mizzima.

ERI, representing the Shwe Gas, sent the complaint letter, endorsed by nine Korea-based organisations, to the Korean government in October. But in November the MKE responded to the complaint saying it did not find Daewoo and KOGAS' activities in Burma flouting the guidelines of OECD.

OECD is an organisation which has set guidelines for multinational enterprises in accordance with the principles of democracy and market economy around the world. South Korean along with several other countries ranging from Europe to North & South Americas, Asia and Australia are members of the OECD.

ERI in its complaint letter said, Daewoo and KOGAS failed to comply with OECD's Guidelines by failing to respect human rights, contributing to forced labour, failing to promote sustainable development, failing to disclose information about the project, failing to consult with the local population, and by failing to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) according to international standards in their exploration and development of oil fields in Burma.

ERI, the Shwe Gas movement and others in the complaint letter call on the Korean government to intervene and halt Korean companies from exploiting and developing gas fields in Burma until a democratic government could be installed in the country.

The groups said, business deals with the current military rulers hurts the interest of the people of Burma, as it only strengthens the military might of the ruling generals, who are internationally condemned for abusing the rights of its own citizens.

"Daewoo and KOGAS are now on notice and will be held responsible for social and environmental abuses committed by the Burmese junta against local communities in pipeline areas," Wong Aung said.

He added that if this project moves forward, rights abuses in the region would exponentially increase.

Despite calls by Mizzima the Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy did not provide any comments.

Earlier, D.S. Kim, an official from Daewoo International Corporation office in Rangoon, told Mizzima that Daewoo's involvement in gas exploration in Burma does not contribute to human rights abuses in the country.

But campaigners said, the abuses including forced labour, forced relocation, extra-judicial killings, and intimidation of local villagers are all committed by the Burmese Army which has a deal with the companies to guard the work sites.

Daewoo International, leading the consortium of companies, holds 51 percent stake in Shwe Project from A1 and A3 block of offshore gas fields in western Burma, Korean state owned KOGAS owns another 8.5 percent stake, while the rest are shared between two other Indian companies Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).