The network made the demand during Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone and land-related workshop held at Sari Hotel in Kyaukpyu, Rakhine State on February 12-13. Around 50 representatives from 17 townships in the Rakhine State attended the workshop.

The ANREN demanded the government and the parliament to distribute profits gained from the projects in the Rakhine State including Shwe natural gas project for state development, give 24-hour electricity to the entire Rakhine State, allow the Rakhine State’s residents to buy natural gas at a low price for domestic use, and grant the authority to the Rakhine State government to directly manage the Rakhine State’s natural resources and make independent decisions on local and foreign investments in order for the state’s natural resources to be used for social development.

The network’s leading committee member Ko Zeya Kyaw said his network made the demands because it believes the laws need to be amended before the project is implemented.

“There is lack of transparency. The transparency is nearly the same as the previous administration. A law has been enacted for the SEZ. This law is weak in giving guarantees and protection to the local residents. As we have seen that the investments are big and they could affect the public, the Arakan Natural Resources and Environmental Network has demanded the government and the parliament to amend these laws on behalf of the public,” he explained.

“We are suspicious of how developed [the area] will become after the huge investments are implemented quickly. Education, health, and human resources are still undeveloped in our area. The infrastructure is also undeveloped. If a big investment is to be implemented at this time, it can bring negative impact to the socioeconomic lives of the local residents,” Ko Zeya Kyaw added.

Daw Nyo Aye from the ANREN also said the network will object to the project and stand on the public’s side until emergence of a law that protects the public’s benefits.

"A SEZ will be implemented. The public will be affected by the project, but the negative impact is greater than the benefits. We have learned from statistics that many people have been affected by the former Shwe gas project. [The SEZ project] will cover over 4,000 acres of land from over 30 villages under nine village groups. We will object to the project and stand indivisibly on the side of the public until emergence of a law protecting the public’s benefits,” she said.

The network has demanded the suspension of all petroleum and natural gas projects including the natural gas projects on offshore block A6 and AD7, which are huge investment projects that are being carried out in the Rakhine State, while the situation in the Rakhine State is unstable and the Pyidaungsu Accord cannot be signed yet.