The activists also urged China to stop drilling of a gas pipeline to pass through the dry zone of central Burma . They highlighted the fallout of the projects on the people and said it would impact the livelihood of people residing along the proposed gas pipeline.  

"We strongly believe that the execution of the Shwe Gas Project will lead to militarization, human rights abuses and environmental destruction as well as prolong tyrannical military rule in Burma", said the statement of Shwe Gas movement in India.

India's Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dinsha Patel said on Tuesday that Burma decided to sell natural gas from Block A1 and A3 off shore blocks to China dashing the hopes of India acquiring gas.

The Energy Ministry of Burma also confirmed the selling of natural gas reserves of 6.5 TCF from A-1 block to China for the next 30 years on August 16, 2007 after Petro China held a meeting with the Burmese military government in February, 2007.

The Shwe gas movement in India asked China to halt its gas drilling plan until the people to be affected in western Burma can participate in decision making without fear on the use of local resources for infrastructure development.

The Shwe gas project is potentially the single largest source of revenue for the Burmese military government, and is expected to fetch between US$ 800 million and $3 billion annually, Shwe Gas Movement India said.

South Korea's Daewoo International Corporation has a 60 percent stake and Korea Gas Corporation has 10 percent stake in A-1 and A-3 blocks, while India's Oil and National Gas Corporation owns 20 percent and GAIL has 10 percent in two off shore blocks in Burma.

A-1 and A-3 off shore blocks have estimated gas reserves of 5.7-10.00 trillion cubic feet with up to 8.6 TCF. - Khonumthung