"Voices from the Ground: Concerns Over Dawei Special Economic Zone and Related Projects"

Dawei Development Association (DDA) together with villagers who have been directly impacted by the Dawei Special Economic Zone (DSEZ) project and local civil society groups from Dawei will launch a new report "Voices from the Ground: Concerns Over Dawei Special Economic Zone and Related Projects" on 21 October 2014. The report presents the findings of a qualitative and quantitative study carried out in 20 villages affected by the DSEZ and related projects. It highlights the deteriorating social, environmental and human rights situation caused by the DSEZ project as a result of an overall lack of transparency and consultation with the local people, and a lack of adequate laws to regulate industrial and economic investment in Myanmar. The report is being submitted to the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand - because of the Thai government's role in the DSEZ project - and will be examined during a public hearing organized by the National Human Rights Commission at their offices from 9.00am on 21 October 2014.

The DSEZ was initiated in 2008 as a bilateral economic cooperation project jointly owned by the national governments of Thailand and Myanmar. While Dawei Development Company Ltd, a join venture company owned by Italian-Thai Development Plc. (ITD) and Max Myanmar was carrying out the DSEZ project, Max Myanmar withdrew its investment, effectively stalling the project in 2012.

The Myanmar and Thai governments took control of the project in November 2013, and concession rights were transferred to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). The governments of Myanmar and Thailand jointly own the SPV, with equal stakes in the project. Therefore, both governments are directly responsible for the DSEZ project, as well as any negative impacts that might arise from it.

The report offers key findings and recommendations to the major stakeholders, including the Thai and Myanmar governments and the national human rights institutions of these countries, as well as to private sector companies from Thailand, Japan, and elsewhere who may be considering investment in these projects.

A chronology of key events regarding the DSEZ can be viewed here

Speakers:

• Dawei Development Association (DDA)

• Villagers from impacted communities

• Civil society groups from Dawei

• Sulak Sivaraksa, Thai intellectual and social critic

• Dr. Nirun Pitakwatchara, Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand

• Dr. Detcharat Sukkamnoed, academic from Kasetsart University, Director of Healthy Public Policy Foundation

Documentary Screening: Supporting the report launch, a screening of the documentary Dawei, Losses for Development will take place at the start of the program.

Venue:

Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand
Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building
518/5 Ploenchit Road (connected to the BTS Skytrain Chitlom station)
Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02-652-0580
E-mail:  info@fccthai.com
Web Site:  http://www.fccthai.com