Report from Arakan State, Western Burma
Executive Summary of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project
On April 2nd 2008 the Indian government signed an agreement with the Burmese military junta for the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project. The project will connect the landlocked area of Northeast India with the sea via Western Burma (Myanmar) and open up trade routes to Southeast Asia.
Engineering plans show that widespread damage will be done to the coast of Arakan State, Western Burma, which is a key area for mangrove forests, shrimp farms and fishing. Similar damage will be done to the Kaladan River and surrounding paddy fields, cutting off much needed supplies of food, on which over a million local civilians depend. Furthermore, the proposed highway is to be built straight through the mountainous forests of Chin State, which are home to many endangered species. On top of this, large-scale militarisation has already been reported in the project area, which has led to forced labour on military infrastructure, forced relocation, extortion, physical and sexual abuse and an exodus of thousands of Arakanese families into India. There seems to have been no effort made by the junta or the Indian companies involved to protect the wellbeing of local
civilians who already live in extreme poverty and have been given no choice about the project.
The Arakan Rivers Network (ARN) cordially invites you to the launch of our preliminary report on the *Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.*
The press conference will be held at *01.00 p.m.* on Tuesday, November 10th at the International Centre on the campus of Chiang Mai University.
A short presentation will highlight the developments and future implications of the project. ARN’s Director, Aung Marm Oo, and the report’s the lead
researchers and writers will be in attendance to discuss any questionsrelated to the project and the report. All attendees will receive a hard copy of the report.
Please find attached our press release for your reference. For further information, do not hesitate to contact Aung Marm Oo at the addresses below.
We appreciate your continuing support and look forward to seeing you in Chiang Mai.
Kind regards,
Arakan Rivers Network (ARN)
+ 66 (0) 81 67 36 326 (Mobile)
+ 66 (0) 55 50 66 18 (Office)
arakanrivers@gmail.com
