More than 20 activists of the All Arakan Students' and Youths' Congress (AASYC) were arrested on Tuesday (18 April) in front of the Republic of Korea embassy in Bangkok, for protesting against the controversial Shwe Gas project by South Korea in Burma – dubbed one of the largest projects in Southeast Asia.More than 20 activists of the All Arakan Students' and Youths' Congress (AASYC) were arrested on Tuesday (18 April) in front of the Republic of Korea embassy in Bangkok, for protesting against the controversial Shwe Gas project by South Korea in Burma – dubbed one of the largest projects in Southeast Asia.

The protest was part of the second global campaign simultaneously carried out in 20 countries. According to AASYC, the stakeholders of the project did not consult nor obtain the consensus of the local people before implementing the project. If the project continues, there will be grave human rights violation on the Arakan people.

Out of the 23 Burmese students and youths arrested, five migrant workers possessing Thai government issued identity cards (ID), were released from the police station on the same day. The other 18 were detained at the Immigration Detention Center in Sathorn, Bangkok. Those with government issued ID waited for their employers to come and “claim” them. Those with United Nations Human Rights Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) paper will be sent to the IDC in Mae Sot, where an official will pick them up.

On 21 April, FORUM-ASIA was told that all detainees have been released and returned safely to Mae Sot, Tak Province, in northern Thailand.

Said a FORUM-ASIA representative: “We commend the AASYC, they knew from the beginning that they face the risk of arrest, yet if they did not carry out the campaign, who will?

“To stop the Shwe gas project is the duty and rights of the Arakan people to protect their national resources.

“FORUM-ASIA knew about the protest, warned them about the consequences and stood by the Arakan students and youths when they needed help and protection”.

Read the full text of the open letter AASYC handed over to Second Secretary of the embassy of the Republic of Korea, Hyung Suk-Choi on 18 April.