Seminar on Impacts and Consequences of

Overseas Investment in Large-Scale Resource Extraction Projects in Burma and

the role of ASEAN

Saturday 18th September 2010

Conference room, Student Christian Center

Huachang Bridge, Phyathai Road, Tel: 02 215 0628-9

Co-orgnizers
Towards Ecological Recovery (TERRA); Thai Action Committee for Democracy in
Burma (TACDB); Shan Women Action Network (SWAN); Pa-O Youth
Organization; Arakan Oil Watch; Human Rights Foundation of Monland; Burma
River’s Network (BRN); Master of Arts in International Development Studies
(MAIDS) Programme, Faculty of Political Sciences, Chulalongkorn University

Background
Overseas investment in large-scale resource extraction projects in Burma, including in
the energy sector (hydropower dams, coal-fired power plants) and the extractives
industry (mineral, natural gas and oil) have proved to be catalysts that exacerbate
community and environmental problems and human rights violation.

Currently, the biggest foreign investors in Burma include ASEAN countries and its
dialogue partners, namely Thailand, Singapore, China and the UK. As the largest
investor, Thailand invested a total value of US$7.4 billion in 59 projects during the
period of 1989 -2008, equivalent to 47% of the total foreign direct investment in
Burma. The UK and Singapore ranked as second and third largest investors, investing
US$1,861 mllion in 17 projects and US$1,502 million in 71 projects respectively. In
the meantime, China is growing rapidly as a major investor in Burma; In January
2009, China was reported to have invested in Burma a total of US$1,800 million.
Major sectors that attract foreign investment include energy, fisheries, petrochemicals,
construction, hotels and tourism, and agricultural goods processing.

The flood of overseas investment into Burma demonstrates that the country is blessed
with rich natural resources. Yet these major investments also represent a major threat
to the region’s environmental sustainability and social stability. If the ASEAN
community, as well as the international community, fail to recognize these threats - or
even proactively encourage such investments - it is difficult for the people of ASEAN,
particularly the people of Burma, to believe that the objectives of the ASEAN
community will be fulfilled in the present or even in the future.

The upcoming ASEAN Peoples’ Forum in Hanoi, Viet Nam during 24-26 September
is an important venue for civil society to highlight the adverse impacts of overseas
investment in large-scale resource extraction projects in Burma which remain largely
unrecognized, unacknowledged and unaddressed to date. Also, the seminar workshop
will be held to reinforce civil society’s call for the forth strategic environmental pillar
of ASEAN, demanding that the leaders of the ASEAN community, its dialogue
partners and related regional and international organizations to put in place strong
measures that protect and foster people and the environment.
We call on ASEAN to:

• Recognize that large-scale resource extraction projects are threatening the

food security and livelihoods of millions of people in the region, and to
review, revise and, if necessary, stop any destructive investments, in doing so
giving priority to peoples’ livelihoods, ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Review and revise economic activities in Burma, in particular cross-border
investments, to ensure that they comply with ASEAN’s charter, promote
human rights, generate income for local people, respect justice for labor,
preserve the environment, when sharing transboundary rivers, coastal and
marine resources and forestry resources.
• Put in place measures that compel large and transnational corporations to
adhere to international environment and human rights standards and
conventions, and to be accountable for their actions that violate national laws
and ASEAN’s commitments.
• Develop and implement strategies that establish and operationalize an
Environment Pillar that reinforces the above principles and practices.

Registration (8:30-9:00)

Introduction to the seminar (09:00 - 09:30)

• “Why the Environmental Pillar is needed in the ASEAN Community”

Premrudee Daoroung, Towards Ecological Recovery (TERRA)

Session 1: Overseas Investment in Large-Scale Resource Extraction Projects in

Burma (9:30-12:00) Facilitated by Chairat Thomya, Reporter, Thai PBS

• “Mong Kok’s coal mine and power plant projects in Shan State” by Charm
Tong, Shan Women Action Network (SWAN)
• “Iron mine projects in Shan State” by Khun Chanke, Pa-O Youth Organization
• “Natural gas pipeline and Shwe Gas project” by Jockie, Arakan Oil Watch
• “Burma-Thai gas pipeline project,” by representative of Human Rights
Foundation of Monland
• “Hydropower dam projects on the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwaddy) River” by Ah
Nan, Burma River’s Network (BRN)
• “Hydropower dam projects on the Salween River” by Montree Chantawong,
Towards Ecological Recovery (TERRA)

Lunch (12:00 -13:00)

Session 2: Analysis on overseas investments and civil society’s role in monitoring

and investigating overseas investment in Burma (13:00 – 15:30) Facilitated by
Laddawan Tantiwittayapitak, Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma
(TACDB)

• Surapong Jayanama, ex-diplomat and academic

• Rosana Tositrakul, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Corruption
Investigation and Good Governance Promotion
• Pornpimol Trichot, Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University
• Witoon Permpongsacharoen, Mekong Energy and Ecology Network (MEE
Net)

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