Amnesty International (AI) today called upon Petronas not to evade the issue of human rights violations occurring in Burma.

AI expressed concern over Petronas' attempt to skirt around the admission by its gas and pipeline project partner, Premier Oil, that human rights violations had occurred within its areas of operations in Yetagun, Burma.

Petronas neither acknowledged nor denied reports that such violations were occurring within its areas of operations in Burma as admitted by Premier Oil chief executive officer Charles Jamieson ("[#1] Investments will improve human rights in Burma, says Petronas[/#] ", June 7).

Its official statement read: "In relation to the human rights agenda, it has been amply demonstrated that respect for human rights will inevitably increase, and entrenched habits get neutralised, whenever a country achieves good economic and social progress".

"The evidence that AI has, does not support this simplistic thesis," chairperson of AI Malaysia coordinating committee Joseph Paul said.

Paul said that while AI "neither opposes nor supports punitive economic sanctions against countries with grave human rights violation, it however does expect corporations to be responsible in upholding human rights in countries which they operate".

"Gross human rights abuses together with environmental devastation are stark realities in Burma under the absolute rule of the military junta, which stands to benefit from Petronas' involvement in Burma."

Paul further demanded that the Malaysian corporation "spell out clearly" and "be transparent" about its terms of constructive engagement in Burma, specifically with regards to its position on human rights violations.