Condoleezza Rice’s Profitable Link to Repressive Myanmar
source: La Voz de Aztlan,net
Condoleezza Rice was a Chevron Director from 1991 until January 15, 2001 when she was transferred by President George Bush Jr. to National Security Adviser. Previously she was Senior Director, Soviet Affairs, National Security Council, and Special Assistant to President George Bush Sr. from 1989 to 1991.
source: http://asia.news.yahoo.com
Wednesday August 23, 9:13 PM
Oil Lures West to Troubled Myanmar
Governments both East and West are often critical of Myanmar's human rights abuses, but the country's energy production is rising, and nations are quietly doing lucrative business with its junta leaders.
Although the U.S. leads the chorus of criticism and has slapped economic sanctions on the country, giant oil company Chevron Corp. and an upscale tourist operator are among American enterprises doing business in the Southeast Asian nation.
"Clearly what many governments and corporations say and what they practice are completely different things," says Ka Hsaw Wa of EarthRights International, a nonprofit group that documents human rights and environmental abuses.
While the ruling military junta has brutally repressed political dissent and keeps pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in detention, the country is the 16th largest natural gas exporter in the world and new discoveries suggest it may harbor one of the largest gas yields in Southeast Asia.
It was recently announced that undeveloped fields in Myanmar's Bay of Bengal could yield between 5.7 and 10 trillion cubic feet of tappable gas.
This past week, Myanmar reported it agreed to increase its natural gas exports to
Thailand and could raise production from just one field by 25 percent
Over the long term this is going to increase," said Vichitr Kuladejkhuna, an energy analyst with Singapore-based DBS Vickers Securities. "There is significant potential for future development."
Thailand joined in tough criticism leveled at Myanmar _ also known as Burma _ at the annual meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations last month. But the sharp rhetoric has done little to curb the business deals that activists claim enrich and empower the country's generals.
Barely a week after the ASEAN conference, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra quietly visited the country to meet the regime's supreme leader, Gen. Than Shwe, requesting exclusive rights for Thailand's state-run PTT Exploration and Production oil company to develop Myanmar's gas reserves.
So far, Thailand is the only country that imports gas from Myanmar. In 2004, Myanmar earned $578 million from Thailand, or 23 percent of its official total export revenues. Timber, gems and other products are smuggled to neighboring countries and not accounted for officially.
The country's largely undeveloped gas reserves, however, have set off a fierce bidding war between China, India and Thailand that could bring in up to $17 billion for the regime, according to the Shwe Gas Movement, a grassroots coalition monitoring Myanmar's energy sector.
Malaysia's energy giant, Petroliam Berhard, signed a memorandum of intent this month to cooperate with Myanmar on oil and gas projects, the state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar said.
Myanmar's Asian neighbors are not alone.
Despite sanctions by the European Union and the U.S., French and American oil companies Total SA and Chevron operate in Myanmar's lucrative Yadana gas fields through grandfather clauses and sanction loopholes.
The U.S. imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar in 1997, prohibiting most new investment in the country. In 2003, a more stringent law banned nearly all U.S. imports from Myanmar and further restricted financial dealings with the country.
"Chevron maintains its investment in Myanmar assets for compelling business reasons, fundamental of which is to better meet Southeast Asian demand for energy supplies," said Charlie Stewart, a Chevron spokesman. "Providing safe, reliable and secure supplies of natural gas will contribute to economic growth and stability in the region."
According to The Burma Campaign, a British advocacy group, more than 100 international companies do business with Myanmar. The firms include U.S.-based luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent Inc. and Britain-based timber company Morgan Timber, which sells Burmese teak.
But it's energy needs that are driving foreign investment.
Earlier this year, Thailand's MDX Group signed a $6 million contract to build a dam that will supply Thailand with electricity, one of five planned in Myanmar along the Salween River. Environmentalists say the development will ravage a delicate ecosystem, and activists say it threatens numerous marginalized ethnic groups.
Thailand claims its policy of "constructive engagement" is helping speed Myanmar toward democratic and economic reforms.
"Most of the cooperation programs we have with them go down to the grass roots. It involves local people, it involves local well-being. I think that would contribute not only to economic prosperity, but national reconciliation," said Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Kitti Wasinondh.
But the Karen Rivers Watch group said a Myanmar military offensive has driven thousands of ethnic Karen from their homes, in part to open up the area for the building of the dams.
"Of all the business that is going into Burma ... the amount that goes toward the health and education of the people is pathetic, said Ka Hsaw Wa of EarthRights International. "Most of it just goes to the military junta and helps to strengthen their military power."
source: La Voz de Aztlan,net
Chevron named oil tanker the
"Condoleezza Rice"
Below is a picture of the oil tanker before Chevron quietly renamed it the "Altair Voyager" and before President George Bush appointed Ms. Rice as National Security Advisor.
"Condoleezza Rice"
Below is a picture of the oil tanker before Chevron quietly renamed it the "Altair Voyager" and before President George Bush appointed Ms. Rice as National Security Advisor.
Condoleezza Rice was a Chevron Director from 1991 until January 15, 2001 when she was transferred by President George Bush Jr. to National Security Adviser. Previously she was Senior Director, Soviet Affairs, National Security Council, and Special Assistant to President George Bush Sr. from 1989 to 1991.
source: http://asia.news.yahoo.com
Wednesday August 23, 9:13 PM
Oil Lures West to Troubled Myanmar
Governments both East and West are often critical of Myanmar's human rights abuses, but the country's energy production is rising, and nations are quietly doing lucrative business with its junta leaders.
Although the U.S. leads the chorus of criticism and has slapped economic sanctions on the country, giant oil company Chevron Corp. and an upscale tourist operator are among American enterprises doing business in the Southeast Asian nation.
"Clearly what many governments and corporations say and what they practice are completely different things," says Ka Hsaw Wa of EarthRights International, a nonprofit group that documents human rights and environmental abuses.
While the ruling military junta has brutally repressed political dissent and keeps pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in detention, the country is the 16th largest natural gas exporter in the world and new discoveries suggest it may harbor one of the largest gas yields in Southeast Asia.
It was recently announced that undeveloped fields in Myanmar's Bay of Bengal could yield between 5.7 and 10 trillion cubic feet of tappable gas.
This past week, Myanmar reported it agreed to increase its natural gas exports to
Thailand and could raise production from just one field by 25 percent
Over the long term this is going to increase," said Vichitr Kuladejkhuna, an energy analyst with Singapore-based DBS Vickers Securities. "There is significant potential for future development."
Thailand joined in tough criticism leveled at Myanmar _ also known as Burma _ at the annual meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations last month. But the sharp rhetoric has done little to curb the business deals that activists claim enrich and empower the country's generals.
Barely a week after the ASEAN conference, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra quietly visited the country to meet the regime's supreme leader, Gen. Than Shwe, requesting exclusive rights for Thailand's state-run PTT Exploration and Production oil company to develop Myanmar's gas reserves.
So far, Thailand is the only country that imports gas from Myanmar. In 2004, Myanmar earned $578 million from Thailand, or 23 percent of its official total export revenues. Timber, gems and other products are smuggled to neighboring countries and not accounted for officially.
The country's largely undeveloped gas reserves, however, have set off a fierce bidding war between China, India and Thailand that could bring in up to $17 billion for the regime, according to the Shwe Gas Movement, a grassroots coalition monitoring Myanmar's energy sector.
Malaysia's energy giant, Petroliam Berhard, signed a memorandum of intent this month to cooperate with Myanmar on oil and gas projects, the state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar said.
Myanmar's Asian neighbors are not alone.
Despite sanctions by the European Union and the U.S., French and American oil companies Total SA and Chevron operate in Myanmar's lucrative Yadana gas fields through grandfather clauses and sanction loopholes.
The U.S. imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar in 1997, prohibiting most new investment in the country. In 2003, a more stringent law banned nearly all U.S. imports from Myanmar and further restricted financial dealings with the country.
"Chevron maintains its investment in Myanmar assets for compelling business reasons, fundamental of which is to better meet Southeast Asian demand for energy supplies," said Charlie Stewart, a Chevron spokesman. "Providing safe, reliable and secure supplies of natural gas will contribute to economic growth and stability in the region."
According to The Burma Campaign, a British advocacy group, more than 100 international companies do business with Myanmar. The firms include U.S.-based luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent Inc. and Britain-based timber company Morgan Timber, which sells Burmese teak.
But it's energy needs that are driving foreign investment.
Earlier this year, Thailand's MDX Group signed a $6 million contract to build a dam that will supply Thailand with electricity, one of five planned in Myanmar along the Salween River. Environmentalists say the development will ravage a delicate ecosystem, and activists say it threatens numerous marginalized ethnic groups.
Thailand claims its policy of "constructive engagement" is helping speed Myanmar toward democratic and economic reforms.
"Most of the cooperation programs we have with them go down to the grass roots. It involves local people, it involves local well-being. I think that would contribute not only to economic prosperity, but national reconciliation," said Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Kitti Wasinondh.
But the Karen Rivers Watch group said a Myanmar military offensive has driven thousands of ethnic Karen from their homes, in part to open up the area for the building of the dams.
"Of all the business that is going into Burma ... the amount that goes toward the health and education of the people is pathetic, said Ka Hsaw Wa of EarthRights International. "Most of it just goes to the military junta and helps to strengthen their military power."
