Sixteen pressure groups, including Earthrights International, have
raised human rights concerns with the Asian Development Bank over the
projects in Burma in which it is indirectly involved. The groups have
put their points in a joint letter to the bank just as it reviews its
safeguard policies.
The bank has not put new loans into Burma for 20 years but it supports
regional projects in which work in Burma plays a part – the Asian
Highway component of the East-West Economic Corridor and the Ta Sang
Dam, a section of the proposed Mekong Power Grid.
The letter complains that in the Burma stretch of the Asian Highway no
social or environmental impact assessments have been completed or made
publicly available, communities in the project area have not been
consulted, and there have been reports of forced labour.
It says more than 300,000 people have been relocated by force from the
dam area, and that if the dam is built it will drive thousands more
from their homes, bringing more forced relocations by the Burmese
military. It says: ‘Increased militarization has already led to an
increase in reports of torture, extra-judicial killing and other human
rights abuses in the Ta Sang area.’
The groups say the bank should expand it safeguard policies to cover
regional technical assistance grants and assistance not related to
projects; include environmental and human rights organizations working
for Burma in its consultations; and draw up social and environmental
policies with a commitment to protect the rights of all affected
communities.
They write: ‘We hope that you will provide leadership to ensure the
rights of the weakest and most marginalized citizens of the ADB
developing member countries are not violated by ADB operations.’
The bank’s review of its safeguard policies continues until June and a
final paper will go to the board for consideration next January. The
policies are on involuntary resettlement, indigenous peoples and the
environment. The bank says they are intended to avoid or minimize
environmental impacts, social costs to third parties and
marginalization of vulnerable groups. It intends that the updated
policies will state the safeguard requirements more clearly and focus
more on results.
Inquiries and suggestions from stakeholders are being welcomed during the updating process.
