Controversy
The Yadana project has been subject to much criticism in the international community, particularly because companies of democratic nations invested in a regime that has been noted for its human rights violations. The State Law and Order Restoration Council came under intense scrutiny for their human rights abuses during the construction of the pipeline and their involvement in the project led to a lawsuit being filed against Unocal. Evidence collected by ERI (EarthRights International) suggests that villagers are routinely forced to work in various guises. One former soldier from the 273 battalion said : "We were told it was a 30 year project and the country got half, and the foreigners got half of the benefit. We ask the villagers to carry shell ammunition, food and supplies. During the portering the soldiers treat porters not so good. I do not want to mention about these bad things so much since I myself I have done it to these people as well at that time." Troops routinely force civilians to work for them and those who refuse are often beaten, tortured or sometimes killed. Since early 2009 Burmese soldiers have ordered villagers to build a new police camp. "The Yadana project ushered in the Burmese army and the Burmese army continues to provide security for the companies and the project. The Total company has been complicit in abuses," said Matthew Smith of ERI.
The 2006 documentary Total Denial depicted the controversy surrounding the construction of the Yadana pipeline.
Read more about this topic: Yadana Gas Field
Famous quotes containing the word controversy:
“Ours was a highly activist administration, with a lot of controversy involved ... but I’m not sure that it would be inconsistent with my own political nature to do it differently if I had it to do all over again.”
—Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.)
“And therefore, as when there is a controversy in an account, the parties must by their own accord, set up for right Reason, the Reason of some Arbitrator, or Judge, to whose sentence, they will both stand, or their controversy must either come to blows, or be undecided, for want of a right Reason constituted by Nature; so is it also in all debates of what kind soever.”
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