AGENDA 21: RAISING FUEL PRICES AND ATTEMPTING TO REGULATE MILITARY JUNTA'S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY RESULTS IN RIOTS AND LOSS OF LIFE

Burma is one of the countries listed in the Agenda 21 Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. One of the strategies of preserving bio-sphere ecosystems is reducing the use of fossil fuels through raising prices and taxes on gasoline, diesel, and home heating oil.
http://www.un.org/jsummit/html/sustainable_dev/p2_managing_resources/1110_critical_ecosystem.pdf



Burma has a disasterous relationship with the United Nations and World Heritage designation. Follow the links to read the history of this country ruled by military juntas and the junta’s relationship with the United Nations and ‘environmentalism.

Quotes from an article by PETER GUTTER.

Following the coup in 1988, the SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council, the name of the military junta at that time) made it a point to sell the natural resources of the country to get the urgently needed foreign exchange.

It also means that the junta is ignoring the fact that environmental preservation and protection are everyone's responsibility, and is contradicting Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, which says that, "Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens".

On 10 August 1995, all fishing deals between the Burmese junta and Thai fishing companies from Ranong were scrapped after the killing of Burmese sailors by Thai fishermen. The junta also claimed Thai fishermen had violated the agreements by fishing outside the concession areas and taking more fish than they were allowed. In April 1997, Thai fishing companies complained that they were not being allowed to transport catches out of the Burmese concession areas despite new agreements with the junta.31 In November 1997, the junta finally agreed to grant fishing concessions for about 400 Thai fishing trawlers and about 450 Thai boats registered as Burmese trawlers.

According to Thailand, however, the SPDC Order was issued not for environmental but political reasons, in reprisal against the Thai government's decision to release Burmese political dissidents who took hostages when they commandeered the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok in October. The Burmese junta has said that they will not lift the sanctions until the dissidents who seized the embassy are arrested and prosecuted.

In recent years the military junta has become more vocal about improving environmental laws and policies in Burma. It issued an Environment Policy in 1994 and has been working with the United Nations on a national action plan for the environment called "Myanmar Agenda 21". These acts are however no more than a façade that makes the junta look like an environmentally concerned government. This is part of the junta's attempt to legitimize itself with the United Nations and international environmental organizations.

"Myanmar Agenda 21" is essentially an environmental action plan for Burma. It is divided into 4 Parts and 19 Chapters, and reviews the current state of Burma's development and environment. It suggests policies to be undertaken for improving environmental protection in Burma. Some of the major proposals of the Agenda are strengthening the NCEA, possibly turning it into a Ministry; creating a national framework legislation on the environment to improve coordination and cooperation between ministries on issues related to the environment; and creating legislation that requires that environmental impact assessments are done before any development project is undertaken. Written with the assistance of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), it was ap-proved by the Burmese junta in February 1997. Although the document was presented at the June 1997 United Nations General Assembly Session on Agenda 21, it is only a plan and the junta is not bound to stick to it. So far it has only been a façade. It will nevertheless be an important tool for the junta to use when it wants to convince UN agencies and international environment organizations that it is serious about the environment and should get funding and other support.

Although there are 15 wildlife sanctuaries in Burma, they are small and total only 0.5 per cent of the land area. Under the existing legislation the fauna in the sanctuaries is protected, but the habitat is not, with the result that some of the most valuable areas such as Shwe U Daung (one of the last known habitats of the Sumatran rhinoceros in Burma) have been logged. Damage to other areas has been so severe that they are now of little conservation value. Nevertheless, the junta is now seeking World Heritage status for the newlycreated Myinmoletkat Wildlife Sanctuary. The Burmese army has been clearing the area, thereby razing entire villages, killing, raping, enslaving, to make way for the sanctuary which is the biggest of its kind in the world. It is home to rare flora and fauna, tigers, elephants and the Sumatran rhinoceros. It must be a sign to the world as if the Burmese military junta, shunned because of its appalling human rights record, cares about endangered wildlife and the environment. "Burma wants a nature reserve. So do conservationists. But first they have to get rid of the villagers".87

Overall, the Burmese junta shows little concern for the environmental impact of its policies. Economic 'development' is proceeding without public input, clear legislation, reliable data or official accountability. Nevertheless, the military junta has discovered that environmental issues can be an important tool to gain international prestige and funding. The junta has become more vocal about protecting the environment but it has taken few steps to live up to its promises.

http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/LIOB09-environment_and_law_in_burma.htm

Otero Residents Forum says:

You may ask, ‘Why is the situation in Burma important and why would ORF take the time to bring it to my attention?” If you are serious about researching World Heritage designation around the world, the effectiveness of the United Nations, and how other nations respond to the U.N.; TAKE THE TIME AND READ THE ARTICLE!
After you have read the article by Peter Gutter, read the following article.

Nine dead as Burmese police open fire on protesters

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22496655-952,00.html