“Due to negative effects of the Shwe gas project, a 14-member the Shan Farmer Committee, representing over 10,000 farmers have signed a petition letter to the chief minister of Shan State. The letter emphasizes the need to consider the welfare of the locals. Copies of the letter are also sent to the offices of Shan State government. The letter which filed against the project reads: “Farmers filing for compensations over damages made by Shwe gas pipeline passing across northern Shan State, dated 5th April 2013,” said a person who participated in the petition.

As May 2013 is approaching, Chinese petroleum and gas pipeline construction is nearer to completion. Since the beginning of an 800 km long pipelines construction, although the locals and many other civil society organizations have complained against the project, nevertheless, their voices have been ignored, said the petition.

“Since the construction of pipeline project started, there has never been a public talk for awareness or any kind of information discerned for the locals and farmers. We have not benefited anything from the pipelines. Even compensation, only a small amount was given which was unfair. They never care about the owners of the properties. As May 2013 is approaching, oil and gas will be passing through our locality very soon. Worse is pipelines are poorly connected to link one another. In case, the pipeline is damaged, leaking is at risk; then who would have to suffer from this kind of incidents? For such man-made calamity we are very worried about,” said a Namkham residence farmer.

“That is why, the Northern Shan Farmer Committee is strongly against the pipeline project. Now, the oil and gas pipelines are threatening our life for safety and security, our ecology and environment. The project is good only for Chinese and Myanmar governments. It is not that we are against for the State development, but we want, for the locals, a positive response. Therefore, we urge that the pipeline project brought to a halt immediately,” added the petition statement.

The Shwe pipeline project is passing through several towns, villages and farmlands in northern Shan State such as Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin), Nawngkhio, Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Namtu and Namkham, its destination being Yunnan Province, China.

It is reported that the Shwe gas pipeline has already destroyed around 2,000 acres of farmlands and forests passing through the mentioned townships. Since 2011, throughout the pipelines route due to soil digging and dumping resulting water blockages. The damage has gone beyond as initially estimated or within the limit of 100 feet. Therefore, the damages of environment and farmlands have gone far beyond the limits.

The Chinese state-owned firm China National Petroleum Co (CNPC) and Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) have conducted the oil and gas pipeline project. It is an over 30-year long project agreement between Chinese and Myanmar governments, in which the latter will benefit from the sale of oil and gas worth USD 29 billion.