This report by the Shwe Gas Movement reveals glaring weaknesses in Burma’s legal framework regarding the extractive industries, resulting in human rights abuses, environmental damage and poor revenue distribution.
Good Governance and the Extractive Industry in Burma examines the current laws and conventions in place, measuring what’s missing in Burma against international standards. Research for the report shows major shortcomings in the areas of environmental conservation, human rights, revenue transparency and natural resource management. The report further suggests that new investments should be halted until these gaps in governance are mended.
Calling on civil society, international institutions, transnational corporations and the government of Burma to take equal responsibility in implementing the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI), mandating Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), ensuring human rights and local benefit sharing, the report offers specific recommendations to each of these four audiences on how to achieve good governance.
The release of the report comes just before completion of controversial major extractive projects in Burma such as the Shwe Gas and oil pipelines, and as 30 additional coastal natural gas blocks are currently up for foreign bidding. It follows the May 2013 announcement by Revenue Watch Institute that Burma’s resource governance is the worst in the world.
Shwe Gas Movement promotes human rights, environmental justice and revenue transparency within Burma’s oil and gas sector in Burma.