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Anti-Gas pipeline
campaign voices concern
Khonumthung
News
11 February
2006
The threat arising
from the proposed tri nations Gas Pipeline Project was discussed at length by
the Conveners of the Anti Gas Pipeline Campaign in Mizoram (AGPCM) at a Press
conference on February 9 at the Aizawl Press Club, Mizoram,
India.
The nine conveners of
the AGPCM told the press that the Tri-Nation Shwe Gas Pipeline Project of India,
Burma and
Bangladesh
which is supposed to pass through Mizoram, poses a grave threat to the
environment, culture and economy of the people of the state. The pipeline will
affect 400 square kilometers and bring in its wake massive deforestation in the
state while the governments and companies will enjoy the
revenue
earnings involved in
the project.
The members of the
committee are not sure about future strategies to block the initiation of the
Shwe Gas Pipeline Project. A member told Khonumthung, We have to conduct more
meetings, closely observe government activities and plan our strategy.
In a Press statement,
the AGPCM said that the Shwe Gas Pipeline will run through 400 kilometers and a
stretch of 5 kilometers on its side will be reserved and fenced off for
security. Mizoram will lose its authority and it will serve as a wall of
division.
The statement further
stated that the government of India is under obligation
to produce the Environment Impact Assessment and obtain a No Objection
Certificate from the people of the areas to be affected. Meanwhile, the
Constitution of India incorporates in part IV, article 46 that the the state
shall promote with special care the education
and economic interests
of the weaker section of the people and in particular the Scheduled Tribe (ST)/
Scheduled Caste (SC) and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms
of exploitation.
We admire and respect
the activists fighting for democracy, sacrificing their lives and struggling
against the despotic military junta in Burma. However, the move of
the government of India, the largest
democracy in the world, is ill timed as it favours the
empowerment of the
military junta. Freedom is much more favourable then wealth, said the AGPCMs
statement in support of the democratic movement in Burma.
South
Koreas Daewoo
International Cooperation (DIC) and the Burmese junta signed an exploration
contract for the right to carry out oil and gas exploration in Arakan coast in
August 2000. A large gas deposit was discovered and confirmed later in December
2003.
DIC holds 60% stake,
the Oil and Natural Gas Cooperation (ONGC) 20%, the Gas Authority India Limited
(GAIL) 10% and KOGAS of South Korea 10% of the Shwe Gas Project
respectively.
For Further More
Information-
Email- [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Phone- +91- 389-
2318320
Website-
www.khonumthung.com www.bnionline.net/khonumthungho |
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