March 27: The Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) has demand the immediate withdrawal of Daewoo International from Burma as its investments will bring in its wake human rights violations, environmental degradation, and help further entrench the Burmese military regime.

The ALD called for mass protest against Daewoo for its investment in national gas exploration and exploitation off the coast of Arakan in western Burma , according to its statement today.

Environment and human rights activists will demonstrate in front of the Korean embassies and Daewoo International offices in more than 20 countries on April 18, according to the statement.

The Burmese people should know that the investment will not benefit the Arakanese including the whole of Burma ,” said Swe Thant, ALD secretary in Thailand.

Daewoo, which holds a 60 percent stake in the project, will support whatever the Burmese regime does because of its business. The company will produce gas for their long-term benefit. It will have a severe long-term affect on the people due to its agreement from 2010 to 2030, the ALD secretary added.

The sale proceeds of gas are the main income for the military. The revenue will keep Burma away from achieving a democratic government the statement said.

The regime has increased the number of troops in the gas exploration site citing reasons of security of the gas. During its operations more than 10 villages were relocated. Moreover the military used the villagers for forced labour, destroyed villages, confiscated land and raped women, according to the ALD secretary.

According to the statement, when the Yadana gas pipeline in the Tenasserim region of Burma was under construction to transport gas for offshore facility in the Andaman Sea to Thailand , the regime created a highly militarised corridor along the pipeline areas.