Can We Resolve Political Crisis in Burma?

Burma, officially known as Myanmar, has an abundance of natural resources. It is the largest country on the mainland of Southeast Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand. It has a total area of 261,969 sq mi (678,500 sq km) and land boundaries of 5,876 km (Bangladesh and India in the west, with borders of 193 km and 1,463 km respectively). China, Thailand and Laos are also neighbors of Burma in the east, with borders of 2,185 km, 1,800 km, and 235 km respectively. Burma is also famous for its diverse ethnicities. In fact, there are about 135 ethnic nationalities residing in Burma.

The current Burmese “Nation-State” or “the Union of Burma” is a relatively recent creation, existing only since the end of the colonial era. Many of the ethnic nationalities oppose the claim that their lands and their people had been brought under the rule of any Burman kingdoms prior to their annexation by the British annexation. Instead, they claim to have governed their own territories independently for centuries or millennia.

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The Shwe Gas Project and its Impacts on the People of Arakan State and Burma

Arakan State is situated by the Bay of Bengal in western Burma. The state is blessed with an abundance of natural resources; however in recent years, its bountiful supply of oil and gas has become more of a curse than a blessing for the local people.

Arakan’s potential natural gas reserves became the object of major foreign interest in August 2000, when a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) was agreed by Daewoo International Corporation and Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) to explore, produce and market underwater gas reserves from just off the Arakan coast. Today, the oil and gas sector attracts more foreign investment in Arakan State, and in Burma, than any other industry.

Development on Arakan’s Rivers: A Lifeline Being Severed

For the people of Arakan, the rivers of Kaladan, Laymro, Naff, Mayu and many others lie at the heart of everyday life and play a significant part in local history. For the ruling Burmese military regime, however, they are now seen as yet another disposable resource, ideal for exploitation for monetary profit.

In recent years a number of development projects have been planned by Burma’s current rulers, The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to take advantage of Arakan’s waterways.

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