Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA)

October 17, 2003

Kanbauk-Myaingkalay gas pipeline exploded

A part of Kanbauk-Myaingkalay gas pipeline, which transports gas from Yatana on-shore gas station to a new cement factory in Myaingkalay village in Karen State, exploded near Kwan-hlar village of Mudon Township in Mon State after mid-night.  

The loud explosion occurred near a railway at western part of the village and it made the villagers in the area frighten.

The villagers from two Mon villages, Kwan-hlar and Yaung-daung urgently moved to the eastern part of the villagers to avoid the dangerous situation.  

The villagers did not know the reason of explosion, but most of them believed that the gas blew up normally in a junction of pipeline.   Due to lack of skills by the Burmese engineers during the construction of the pipeline, the gas has regularly spilled in the junctions of the pipeline and then blew up seriously and loudly.  

A local artillery regiment bases nearby the area does not confirm for the loss in the explosion and they have arrived to the explosion site suddenly.  This battalion, Artillery Regiment No. 318 under the command of Burmese Army’s Southeast Command has to take responsibility for the security of this pipeline. 

Although the gas explosion did not make direct dangers to the civilians in the area but it has made the villagers frightened.  The paddy growing farms and the environment in the area would be directly affected due to explosion.   This is the second explosion of gas pipeline in the area and the first explosion occurred in February 2002.     

On February 8, 2003, the explosion occurred in northern part of Ye Township in Mon State and the Mon villagers in a village, Lamine, were affected by the bad gas smell.

This gas pipeline passes through villages, paddy farmlands and fruit and rubber plantations in Mon State.   Gas explosion often occurred because of lack of skills in the pipeline construction and sometimes, it was also sabotaged by the ethnic rebel armed group in the area.  

The military regime, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), in Burma constructed this pipeline in early 2000 with a main purpose to provide gas for a cement factory in Myaingkalay in Pa-an Township of Karen State.   The regime also brings gas from the multinational gas companies, Total (France) and UNOCAL (United States) exploited ‘Yatana’ gas field in Andaman Sea of Burma.

During the gas pipeline construction, the regime authorities confiscated civilians’ farmlands, house gardens and orchid plantations along the route, and the Mon civilians were forced to move.   

After the construction, the continual conscription of forced labour has occurred along the pipeline to guard the pipeline, to fence around the pipeline, and to refill earth on the exposed pipe route.