French Oil and Gas Company Provides Energy to Myanmar

JAKARTA - Human Rights groups are urging French multinational oil and gas (Migas) company, Total SE, to suspend payments from their operations in Myanmar following a military coup and concerns over current conditions.

Total SE has been in Myanmar since 1992, operating in the Yadana and Sein offshore Oil and Gas fields, to supply the Myanmar domestic market via a pipeline constructed by the national company Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).

"Total is worried about the situation and hopes for a peaceful solution", Total said in a statement on Twitter, responding to a news article about their involvement in Myanmar, quoted Reuters.

"Total condemns violations of fundamental rights wherever they occur and will be in line with decisions on sanctions. As a reminder, Yadana supplies half of the electricity in Yangon".

It is known, several countries such as the United States to Britain have imposed sanctions on the leader of the Myanmar military regime and their families. The World Bank and the IMF became representatives of international institutions that suspended cooperation with Myanmar because of the military coup.

Total's statement drew a response from Justice for Myanmar, a human rights activist group, which said Total must match words with actions, by deferring all payments to the illegal military regime.

The Myanmar military regime overthrew Myanmar's elected government led by Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint in a February 1 coup.

UN human rights investigators are calling for coordinated international sanctions against MOGE, the country's energy company. It's known that companies like France's Total and US-based Chevron have worked for decades with MOGE. According to a UN investigation, MOGE is currently controlled by the military junta and represents the largest single source of revenue for the country.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news surrounding the Myanmar military coup by tapping on this link.