The complaint against Daewoo International and KOGAS filed by representatives of EarthRights International and the SGM, alleges that Daewoo and KOGAS have failed to take the steps necessary to proactively prevent negative human rights and environmental impacts of the Shwe Gas Project in Burma, and are currently and potentially in violation of at least six of the OECD Guidelines for: failure to respect human rights; failure to promote sustainable development; failure to disclose information about the project; failure to consult with local populations and failure to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) according to international standards. Prior natural gas pipelines in Burma have led to widespread and well-documented abuses, including forced labor.

The complaint called on the companies and the Korean government to postpone the Shwe Project until breaches of the Guidelines are investigated and addressed. The Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE), the governmental ministry of the OECD National Contact Point (NCP), rejected the complaint on all counts, expressing opinions uniformly consistent with those of Daewoo International. Moreover, the MKE opined that the general situation in Burma and specifically around the Shwe Project does not merit an investigation or arbitration between the companies and the complainants. The MKE’s position flies in the face of evidence from groups and communities from within the proposed pipeline area in Burma.

More information regarding this case can be found here

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