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[Joint Statement] Welcome the Korean NCP's decision to offer good offices to SK E&C and Korea Western Power

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[Joint Statement] Welcome the Korean NCP's decision to offer good offices to SK E&C and Korea Western Power

admin | 목, 2019/10/10- 19:57

Welcome the Korean NCP’s decision to offer good offices to SK E&C and Korea Western Power 

The Korean Civil Society TF must express its deep regret at the Korean NCP’s decision to exclude the Export-Import Bank of Korea from the mediation process.

SK E&C and Korea Western Power must faithfully participate in the mediation process.

 

 

October 10, 2019

 

 

On September 25, the Korean National Contact Point of OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (referred to as the Korean NCP in this statement) presented its initial assessment of a complaint about the violation of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises regarding the collapse of the Xe Pian -Xe Nam Noy Dam. The Korean NCP made the decision to offer good offices in the future with SK Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., and Korea Western Power Co. Ltd., taking into account their interests and the significance of the matter. On the other hand, the Export-Import Bank of Korea was excluded in the future mediation process on the grounds that it is an executive agency of the Official Development Assistance (ODA), this is not subject to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Korean Civil Society Task Force Team for the Xe Pian Xe-Namnoy Dam Collapse (referred to as the Korean Civil Society TF in this statement) welcomes the Korean NCP’s decision regarding the mediation process with SK Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., and Korea Western Power Co. Ltd., and urges the two entities to faithfully undertake the mediation process. However, it laments the Korean NCP’s decision to exclude the Export-Import Bank of Korea from the mediation process.

 

On June 17, the Korean Civil Society TF filed a complaint to the Korean NCP against SK Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., Korea Western Power Co. Ltd. and the Export-Import Bank of Korea about the violation of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises regarding the collapse of the Xe Pian Xe-Namnoy Dam. In specific, the complaint pointed out △ that there existed a flaw in the design and the construction of the dam, △that the damage increased due to the delay in emergency water discharge carried out by SK Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., and Korea Western Power Co. Ltd, △the failure to take proper initial measures upon the collapse of the dam such as the absence of an evacuation order, △the failure to implement safety measures despite the mentioning of environmental risk response plan in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, △the failure of the Export-Import Bank of Korea to conduct due diligence in the process of implementing its management and financial advisory contracts, △their refusal to communicate with civil society and to respond to information disclosure request.

 

Regarding the complaint filed by the Korean Civil Society TF, the Korean NCP has concluded that SK Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., and Korea Western Power Co. Ltd have interests because 1. SK Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. is in charge of the design and construction, 2. Korea Western Power Co. Ltd is in charge of the operation of the dam after construction, and 3. both entities are shareholders of PNPC, the joint investment venture and principal agent of the Xe Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric project. Furthermore, the Korean NCP acknowledged the need to contribute to resolving the issue through dialogues initiated by the Korean NCP and to proceed with the mediation process as the Korean Civil Society TF, SK Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., and Korea Western Power Co. Ltd all acknowledge that the issue is critical.

 

However, it is very regrettable that the Export-Import Bank of Korea would be excluded from the conciliation process due to a lack of precedent. In line with the complaint filed regarding the “Jalaur River Multi-purpose project” in the Philippines, the Korean NCP concluded that the Export-Import Bank of Korea is classified as an agency founded and operated according to the Special Act to achieve national policy objectives, thus the project is of no commercial purpose to the bank. Hence, the Korean NCP ruled that concessional funding and associated financial advisory activities are not subject to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. However, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises does not explain nor leaves room for interpretation that only projects with commercial purposes are subject to the guidelines. Nevertheless, the Korean NCP is repeating its claim that there is no precedent in which the guidelines were applied to Official Development Assistance, referring to cases brought to the national contact points of other nations. The Korean NCP must take preemptive measures such as applying the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises without exception, including all financial assistance. 

 

A year has passed since the collapse of the Xe Pian-Xe Nam Noy Dam. The tragedy has had a detrimental effect on the Laotian residents. They are residing in temporary shelters, not knowing when they would be able to return to ordinary lives. The Korean Civil Society TF hopes that the mediation process initiated by the Korean NCP with SK Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., and Korea Western Power Co. Ltd would lead to meaningful relief for the victims and further contribute to the provision of recurrence prevention measures. The Korean NCP must promptly initiate the mediation process and while SK Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. and Korea Western Power Co. Ltd must faithfully participate in the mediation process. The Export-Import Bank of Korea must also fulfill its role and take accountability for all its actions as an executive agency of Official Development Assistance.

 

 

Korean Civil Society Task Force Team for the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Dam Collapse

Energy & Climate Policy Institute / Korean Federation for Environmental Movement/ KTNC Watch / PEACE MOMO / People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy / PIDA

 

Joint Statement [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fY-FdaulSzfuXK_u1EVbXiHxOr0fVGTR5DBx... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">See/Download]

http://www.peoplepower21.org/index.php?mid=International&document_srl=16... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Korean Version >> 

 

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스펨 사용자 차단 질문

Laos: Five years on, 122 organizations worldwide demand to know: “Where is Sombath?”

 

(15 December 2017) - On the fifth anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone, we, the undersigned organizations, express outrage at the Lao government’s failure to independently, impartially, effectively, and transparently investigate Sombath’s disappearance, reveal his whereabouts, and return him to his family. 

 

The Lao government’s continued silence and obfuscation of the facts around Sombath’s enforced disappearance have subjected his family to five years of fear and uncertainty over his fate and whereabouts, which remain unknown to this day.

 

Sombath was last seen at a police checkpoint on a busy street of the Lao capital, Vientiane, on the evening of 15 December 2012. His abduction was captured on a CCTV camera near the police checkpoint. The footage strongly suggests that police stopped Sombath’s vehicle and, within minutes, unknown individuals forced him into another vehicle and drove him away in the presence of police officers. CCTV footage also appears to show an unknown individual driving Sombath’s vehicle away from the city center before returning sometime later.

 

The fact that police officers appeared to have witnessed Sombath’s abduction and failed to intervene strongly indicates state agents’ involvement in, or acquiescence to, Sombath’s disappearance. Despite this evidence, the Lao authorities have not presented any new findings with regard to their investigation of the case. Despite claiming in various international fora that the investigation is “ongoing”, the government has not issued an official report on the investigation’s progress since 8 June 2013.

 

Sombath’s case is not the only case of an unsolved enforced disappearance in Laos. Lao authorities have failed to provide information on the fate or whereabouts of many other individuals, including community activists, who have been victims of enforced disappearance.

 

The Lao government’s failure to undertake adequate investigations into all cases of enforced disappearances violates its obligations under international human rights law, including Article 2(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Laos is a state party.

 

We urgently call on governments worldwide to demand that the Lao government immediately provide information on Sombath’s fate or current whereabouts, and other details surrounding Sombath’s enforced disappearance, as well as all other cases of enforced disappearance, in order to determine the victims’ fate or whereabouts. Lao authorities should commit to making the findings available to family members of the disappeared, and provide regular public updates on their progress on all cases of enforced disappearance. The Lao government should also ensure that those responsible for enforced disappearance, regardless of title or rank, are held accountable in trials that comply with international fair trial standards.

 

Lastly, we strongly urge the Lao government to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, incorporate its provisions into the country’s domestic legislation, and implement it in practice.

 

1.           Accion Ecologica

 

2.           Al Haq

 

3.           Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS)

 

4.           Amnesty International

 

5.           Armanshahr/OPEN ASIA

 

6.           ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)

 

7.           Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD)

 

8.           Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)

 

9.           Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)

 

10.       Association for Law, Human Rights and Justice (HAK)

 

11.       Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)

 

12.       Awaz Foundation Pakistan - Centre for Development Services

 

13.       Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR)

 

14.       Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) - Friends of the Earth Bangladesh

 

15.       Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM)

 

16.       Bank Information Center

 

17.       Bytes for All

 

18.       Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)

 

19.       Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)

 

20.       Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ) - Friends of the Earth Sri Lanka

 

21.       Centre for Environmental Justice

 

22.       Centre for Financial Accountability

 

23.       Centre for Human Rights and Development

 

24.       Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD)

 

25.       China Labour Bulletin (CLB)

 

26.       Christian Development Alternative (CDA)

 

27.       Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (CAGED)

 

28.       Coalition of the Flemish North-South Movement 11.11.11

 

29.       Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS)

 

30.       Community Resource Centre Foundation (CRC)

 

31.       Covenants Watch

 

32.       Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF)

 

33.       DIGNIDAD (A Life of Dignity for All)

 

34.       Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights

 

35.       Empowering Singaporeans

 

36.       ENGAGE

 

37.       Fastenopfer Switzerland

 

38.       FIAN International

 

39.       FIDH – International Federation for Human Rights

 

40.       Finnish Asiatic Society

 

41.       Finnish League for Human Rights

 

42.       Focus on the Global South

 

43.       Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific

 

44.       Friends of the Earth Australia

 

45.       Friends of the Earth International

 

46.       Friends of the Earth Japan

 

47.       Fundacion Solon

 

48.       Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict

 

49.       Globe International

 

50.       GZO Peace Institute

 

51.       Haburas Foundation- Friends of the Earth East Timor

 

52.       Human Rights Alert

 

53.       Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)

 

54.       Human Rights Defenders Forum

 

55.       Human Rights Defenders' Alert

 

56.       Human Rights Watch

 

57.       Indian Social Action Forum

 

58.       Indigenous Perspectives

 

59.       Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association(PBHI)

 

60.       Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI)

 

61.       INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre

 

62.       Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC)

 

63.       Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)

 

64.       International Accountability Project

 

65.       International Commission of Jurists

 

66.       Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw)

 

67.       Italian League of Human Rights - LIDU

 

68.       Jan Mitra Nyas

 

69.       Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP)

 

70.       Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS)

 

71.       Lao Movement for Human Rights

 

72.       Latvian Human Rights Committee

 

73.       League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI)

 

74.       Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC) - Friends of the Earth Philippines

 

75.       Liga lidských Práv (LLP)

 

76.       Ligue des droits de l'Homme (LDH)

 

77.       Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN)

 

78.       Mangrove Action Project

 

79.       MARUAH

 

80.       Mekong Monitor Tasmania

 

81.       Mekong Watch

 

82.       Moroccan Association for Human Rights (Association Marocaine des Droits Humains/AMDH)

 

83.       National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP)

 

84.       ND-Burma

 

85.       NGO Forum on ADB

 

86.       Odhikar

 

87.       Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network (PENGON) - Friends of the Earth Palestine

 

88.       People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)

 

89.       People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)

 

90.       People’s Watch

 

91.       Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)

 

92.       PILIPINA Legal Resource Center (PLRC)

 

93.       Polish Society of Antidiscrimination Law (PSAL)

 

94.       Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI)

 

95.       Progressive Voice

 

96.       Pusat Kumunikasi Masyarakat (Pusat KOMAS)

 

97.       Re:Common

 

98.       Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)

 

99.       #ReturnOurCPF

 

100.   Russian Social-Ecological Union (RSEU) - Friends of the Earth Russia

 

101.   Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) - Friends of the Earth Malaysia

 

102.   Savitri Bai Phule Women Forum

 

103.       School for Wellbeing Studies and Research

 

104.       Sister's Arab Forum (SAF)

 

105.       Solidarité des Jeunes Lao

 

106.       Sombath Initiative

 

107.       Southeast Asia Development Program (SADP)

 

108.       South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM)

 

109.       Suan Nguen Mee Ma

 

110.       Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

 

111.       Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)

 

112.       Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR)

 

113.       Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)

 

114.       The Corner House

 

115.       Think Centre

 

 

...

금, 2017/12/15- 14:06
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The Xe Pian-Xe Nam Noy dam project which takes the whole life of the people of Laos: For whom was the development designed?

 

 

 9th August 2018

 

 

The accident of the Xe Pian-Xe Nam Noy dam in Laos on the 23rd of last July has resulted in the death of 34 people and left approximately 100 people missing. 13,067 from 13 towns have been affected by the accident and amongst them, 7,095 from 6 towns which were directly damaged and hit. Considering the fact that the flooded water from the dam has reached the Cambodian border, the total damages have exceeded the level of expectation.

 

This should not be treated as a simple accident. The benefit from the development was exploited by the big enterprises and the government, and the locals who have less power suffered from the consequences of the risks. A whopping 90 percentage of the electricity produced from the dam was supposed to export to Thailand and never meant to be consumed in Laos. From the beginning of this project, it has never been for the sake of the people of Laos. Claiming to serve a role as ‘the battery of Asia’ by carrying out excessive numbers of hydropower dam projects, the Laos government was going to enjoy the financial profit. Also, SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C), the main constructor, and Korean Western Power KOWEPO), the operator for the next 27 years, were all along set to taste the sweetness from the development. The local residents in the dam-constructing sites were left with the painful bitterness from having the environment destroyed and being displaced from their ancestral homes. As it was not enough, they lost their beloved families, and their homes have been demolished. We cannot help but asking for whom this development was designed.

 

The Korean government also takes responsibility for this tragedy. The Xe Pian/Xe Nam Noy project was jointly promoted with the Korean government and enterprises. This was the first Public Private Partnership (PPP) sponsored by Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) from the Export-Import Bank of Korea as a Korea’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). The Ministry of Strategy and Finance of Korea extensively advertised this project as a new model of financial conglomerates combining ‘an aid’ and ‘an exportation’. ODA is constructed with the tax raised by the citizens for the purpose of ending poverty in developing countries and implementing humanitarianism around the globe. However the project in Laos, instead, took thousands of people’s homes causing hundreds of cases of missing people and over tens of people’s death.

 

Therefore we demand the Korean government and enterprises who are responsible for the Xe Pian-Xe Nam Noy dam accident follow below.

 

First, the Korean government must perform the truth-finding mission of the Xe Pian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam with sincere responsibility. It was announced that the Laos government will organize the Investigation Committee of the Accident in order to look into the cause of the accident thoroughly, and will ask for the cooperation of the Korean government and the Thai government in the process. SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C) claims that the cause of the accident is the overflow of the subsidiary dams due to heavy rainfall whereas Korea Western Power (KOWEPO) accounts for the collapse of the subsidiaries, which shows the reasons why an accurate investigation regarding the cause of the accident is utterly necessary. In addition, the process of location-selecting, planning, and building and the evaluation of its environmental and social effects should be examined so that possible wrongful aspects in those stages can be fully revealed. In order to extend the outcomes of the truth-finding investigation from a simple revelation of the cause to the stage where the rehabilitation and the prevention of additional damages or the re-occurrence are promised, the participation of the representatives of the affected towns, local NGOs and the international civil organizations, including Korea’s, must be guaranteed along with the transparency over the whole investigation process.

 

Second, the Korean government and SK E&C should provide long-term plans for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the areas that were damaged. Because of the accident, the citizens of Laos have lost a great deal including not only their families but also their homes and means of living. This cannot be resolved by emergency relief. The long-term plans for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas must be guaranteed and implemented by both the Korean government and SK E&C.

 

Third, the Korean government should study the limitations and problems of its activation policies regarding the PPP (Public Private Partnership) and establish its countermeasures. There have been numerous worries regarding the act of the companies who focus on profits without complying with social responsibilities and corporate ethics. This could hurt the purpose of development cooperation projects, which is to solve poverty and to contribute to the development in partner countries, by damaging the environment and the residents’ right to exist. Nevertheless, the Korean government has not prepared a code of conduct or a system for companies to follow when they participate in these development and cooperation projects. The accident is the very proof that the development cooperation projects, which seek only profits without considering the demands and needs of the community, could actually endanger many people's rights to survive and to live. Such a disaster would not have occurred if the voice of the local residents were heard when they expressed their concerns since the beginning of the project. This tremendous disaster should arouse the Korean government to review its policy of activating public-private cooperation projects.

 

Fourth, the Korean government should fully mandate the implementation of Safeguard, the primary system for preventing environmental, social and human-rights damages of large development projects and for protecting the rights of local residents. According to the EDCF Safeguard, it is stated that Safeguard is useful but not compulsory. If Safeguard is not mandatory, it is only nominal. Even if the responsibility for implementation is placed on the partner countries, the accountability cannot be fulfilled unless the Korean government manages and supervises the implementation process. A complete investigation should apply to the projects that have already started in order to ensure that they comply with Safeguard. Furthermore, it should be determined whether the Korean Safeguard operated at the field so that they do not adversely affect human rights and the environment. Possible improvements should be also considered. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) expressed its concerns in 2017 regarding not considering or demanding human rights related matters when Korea`s public financial institutions provided financial aid. The Korean government should introduce a Human Rights Impact Assessment according to this recommendation, which is to take further steps from the environmental and social impact assessments. In addition, relevant information such as project feasibility reports and environmental and social impact assessment reports should be transparently made public. 

That is the minimum responsibility to ensure that such tragic accidents do not happen again.

 

We will actively cooperate with the people of Laos and local organizations and urge a thorough truth-finding investigation into the cause of the accident. We will also continue our activities to improve legal and institutional mechanisms in the development and cooperation sector for sustainable development of the partner countries.

 

 

The Coordinated Response Team of the Korean Civil Societies for the Xe Pian-Xe Nam Noy Dam Collapse

Energy & Climate Policy Institute / Korean Federation for Environmental Movement/ KTNC Watch / PEACE MOMO / People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy / PIDA / Truth Foundation

 

* [Joint Statement] See/Download

* Korean Version >> Click

 

목, 2018/08/09- 14:39
84
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We must find the reasons behind the accident in Laos Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Hydroelectric power dam and help to restore the damages

Tragedy caused under the South Korean ODA assistance project, 

the South Korean government and enterprise cannot avoid responsibility

 

25. July. 2018

 

 

According to the local press, on 23 July at around 8 pm (local time), a supporting infrastructure, part of the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydroelectric power dam situated in the South-east province of Attapeu, collapsed. The accident inundated 6 villages, thousands went missing and caused more than six thousand refugees. We pray that those who have been sacrificed rest in peace and that those who went missing can return safely to their families. We sympathise deeply with the citizens of Laos who have lost everything in the tragic accident.

 

The Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy dam was a Public Private Partnership (PPP) that had received 95.5 billion won from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund(EDCF) of the Export-Import Bank of Korea as a Korea’s Official Development Assistance(ODA). SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C), Korea Western Power (KOWEPO) have participated in the project. The construction had been finished in April of 2017, four months earlier than scheduled and the dam was expected to commence its commercial operation from February of 2019.

 

However, international environmental NGOs- have long been opposed to the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Dam construction. Concerns over several problems have been raised such as the environmental damage it can cause, the violation of human rights of local residents who could be forcibly removed from the area and the non-transparency of a socio-environmental examination of the project. During the parliamentary inspection of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance of Korea, it has been pointed out that the project did not follow the EDCF safe guide policy which aims to reduce as much as possible any negative effects caused by a large-scale development project and the problems of its applicability.

 

The Laos Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Dam Construction has been supported by the South Korean Official Development Assistance(ODA). The private company, SK Engineering and Construction, as well as the Korean government are responsible for the tragedy. The government must help deal with the aftermath and must investigate the reasons behind the unprecedented and tragic accident. SK E&C has been asserting that the cause of the accident was the ‘overflow’ of water in the supporting dam due to the heavy rain but the Korea Western Power explains that it was the fault of the ‘collapse’ of the supporting dam. This confusion is the reason why a proper and clear investigation of the cause of the accident is needed. Furthermore, they need to clarify if they have selected correctly the location of the infrastructure, if there were no problems of the design or the construction of the dam, if they have implemented effectively the socio-environmental evaluation and if they have followed the guidelines for safety.

 

In addition, it is of utmost importance to evaluate the limits and the problems of its activation policies regarding the EDCF Public-Private-Partnership policy and to provide solutions and alternatives to the problems. The basic installations of guidelines for safety in order to prevent harmful effects on the environment, on the society and on human rights must be compulsory in order to protect the rights of local residents. This is the least of the responsibilities that can be claimed in order to prevent another tragic accident. We sincerely hope once again that the aftermath of the accidents can be handled safely and that all missing people be returned to their families.

 

Statement [See/Download]

Korean Version >>

 

 

번역: 황보경 자원활동가

감수: 참여연대 국제연대위원회

수, 2018/07/25- 08:43
24
0

Case Study

Korean Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Dam Collapse in Laos

 

https://www.forum-asia.org/uploads/wp/2019/10/Attapu2_2019%E2%93%92-Kora... style="width:661px;height:475px;" />

 

Background

 

On 23 July 2018, a saddle dam of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower dam in Attapeu Province, Laos, collapsed. The dam collapse unleashed a disaster with transboundary implications in which 49 Lao residents were killed, 22 others went missing[1], and more than 5,000 were displaced, as the dam water rushed towards the Cambodian border.

 

The Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy dam was a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) that had received 80.8 million USD from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of the Export-Import Bank of Korea, the primary institution that implements Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans for the Republic of Korea. SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C), and Korea Western Power (KOWEPO) were among the main investors in the project. Construction had been completed in April 2017, four months ahead of schedule, and the dam was expected to commence its commercial operation in February 2019.

 

However, international environmental groups had long been opposed to the construction of the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy dam. Concerns had been raised over: environmental damage, forced evictions, and lack of transparency in its Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and socio-environmental examination. During a parliamentary inspection by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance in 2013, it was pointed out that the project did not follow the EDCF’s safeguard policy, which aims to reduce, as much as, possible negative effects caused by large-scale development projects.[2]

 

Meanwhile, 90 percent of the electricity produced from the dam was supposed to be exported to Thailand and was never meant to be consumed in Laos. From the beginning, it was never intended to benefit the people of Laos. It was claimed it would serve as ‘the battery of Asia’, but it would do so by building an excessive number of hydropower dams. The Laotian Government was going to enjoy the financial profits.

 

SK E&C, the main constructor, and KOWEPO, the intended operator for the initial 27 years, were set to reap the benefits from the development project. The residents in the dam-constructing sites were left with the painful bitterness from having the environment destroyed and being displaced from their ancestral homes. As if this was not enough, some families lost family members and had their homes demolished.

 

Korean Civil Society’s Activities

 

After the dam collapsed in 2018, Korean civil society organisations assembled the Coordinated Response Team of the Korean Civil Societies for the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Dam Collapse (Korean Civil Society TF). The Korean Civil Society TF demanded the Korean Government and SK E&C to: investigate why the dam collapsed, commit to the restoration of the affected area, devote official reparation and compensation to the affected residents, and arrange for measures to be taken to prevent any other dam collapsing.

 

The Korean Civil Society TF has been monitoring the situation of the affected areas, while demanding accountability from the Korean Government and SK E&C. National campaigns have been initiated, some with participation from the international community for solidarity. In 2018, Thai and Cambodian activists from Laos Dam Investigation Monitoring (LDIM) and a victim of the damaged area in Cambodia visited Korea, and took part in an international public forum to inform the general public about the situation in the damaged areas after the dam collapsed. They also met with the Korean Exim Bank and Members of Parliament to share insights about the dam collapse. A press conference was held in front of SK E&C building. SK E&C refused to meet with the activists and affected residents.

 

The Korean Civil Society TF has been lobbying members of the National Assembly to play a role in how the dam collapse is addressed. During a parliamentary inspection in 2018, it was raised that there are suspicions that SK E&C attempted to earn excessive profits by changing the structure and design of the dam. It was also revealed that the Korean Government had signed a loan agreement to provide conditional incentive bonuses for completion ahead of schedule.[3]

 

In September 2018 and January 2019, the task force conducted a research on the affected areas in Laos and Cambodia. The research found that the situation of the affected village was worse than expected. The village was nearly lost to view, with houses severely dilapidated. The conditions in the temporary camps were also very poor. The Laotian Government has banned residents from entering their village, supposedly due to risks of diseases or accidents. In addition, victims’ remains were kept in plastic bottles without having proper funerals. The research also contains interviews with various stakeholders and victims to raise awareness in South Korea.

 

On 22 January 2019, the Korean Civil Society TF submitted a letter to the Working Group on Business and Human Rights with allegations about human rights violations committed by transnational corporations and other business enterprises involved with the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Hydropower Dam in Laos.[4] The allegation letter mainly asserts that the relevant authorities linked to the dam project failed in their responsibility to maintain safety and prevent human rights infringement by companies within its borders. Inappropriate decision-making, substandard construction processes, and incompetent crisis handling by the Korean Government and Korean companies all contributed to serious and extensive human rights infringements, which local residents were subjected to.

 

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights[5] account for a State’s duty to protect individuals from human rights infringements from corporations within its borders. They also reflect the corporate responsibility to refrain from infringing on people’s human rights, while respecting human rights by remedying any negative impact on human rights it may find itself accountable for.[6]

 

The Korean Civil Society TF pointed out that SK E&C and the Korean Government had failed to fulfill their responsibilities and duties as explained in the UN Guiding Principles. This is because the companies involved did not immediately report to the State nor did they take measures to allow residents to evacuate, even though they were aware of problems with the saddle dam.

 

In addition, as a member of the United Nations, the Korean Government is obliged to abide by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). As a major investor in the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam project, the Korean Government should thoroughly investigate and take measures in line with its responsibilities for the dam collapse. The Korean Civil Society TF pointed out that the Korean Government’s attitude in dealing with this collapse is very irresponsible.

 

On 17 June 2019, the Korean Civil Society TF filed a complaint to the Korean National Contact Point (NCP) against SK E&C, Korea Exim Bank and KOWEPO for breaching the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.[7] The complaint pointed out that: 1) the reason for the dam collapse was faulty design and construction; 2) SK E&C and KOWEPO failed to minimise the damage by missing the opportunity to discharge overflow; 3) no appropriate measures were taken after the dam collapsed, such an announcement for evacuation; 4)  the adoption of preventive safety measures on environmental risks were required by the EIA; 5) Korea Exim Bank failed to implement due diligence on expected risks in its management and consulting of the financing process; and 6) SK E&C, Korea Exim Bank, and KOWEPO refused to communicate with civil society organisations and ignored information disclosure requests.

 

One year after the dam collapse

 

Although a year has passed, the tragedy of the dam collapse continues. Support for recovery and compensation for the loss and harm inflicted upon Lao and Cambodian nationals have been slow. It is still unclear when the affected residents living in the camps will be able to return their village to resume to their daily lives in hope of a secure future.

 

The cause of the accident has only been revealed recently through an independent investigation commissioned by the Laotian Government, which found that the collapse was caused by human error.[8] Immediate steps must be taken to provide full compensation and restoration for damages to lives and livelihoods. The Korean Government and SK E&C should formally apologise for this tragedy and appropriately compensate the victims.

 

Preventive measures must also be taken to avoid a recurrence of this tragic disaster. Safeguard policies have been established and implemented by international finance institutions such as World Bank and ADB to prevent environmental, social, and human rights violations caused by large-scale development projects, and protect the rights of residents.

 

The EDCF established a safeguard policy in 2016. Yet, problems persist, including: the absence of independent screening bodies, non-disclosure of relevant information, such as environmental and social impact assessments, lack of responsibility of aid agencies in fulfilling safeguarding measures, lack of monitoring and post-evaluation measures, and the lack of responsibility of aid agencies in operating grievance procedures.

 

The Korean Government must immediately review its safeguard policies and apply it to all projects, including concessional loans and grants for development aid. The Korean Civil Society TF will continue its activities to push for official compensation for the affected residents and for measures to prevent the recurrence of the disaster in cooperation with the international community.

 

---------

[1] Vientiane Times, Victims of dam collapse receive compensation, January 29, 2019 http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/freeContent/FreeConten_Victims.php

 

[2] National Assembly Minutes, Parliamentary Inspection of Korea Eximbank, October 30, 2013

http://likms.assembly.go.kr/record/mhs-40-010.do" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://likms.assembly.go.kr/record/mhs-40-010.do

 

[3] Hankyoreh, SK E&C’s attempts to cut costs led to design changes that resulted in the collapse of dam in Laos, October 15, 2018

 

[4] The Korean Civil Society TF, Allegation Letter on Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Hydropower Dam Collapse, 2019

http://www.peoplepower21.org/index.php?_filter=search&mid=English&search... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.peoplepower21.org/index.php?_filter=search&mid=English&search...

 

[5] UN, Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework, (2011) UN Doc. HR/PUB/11/04.

 

[6] UN Guiding Principles, Article 1, Article 11

 

[7] The Korean Civil Society TF, Summary of the Complaint for the Xe-pian Xe-namnoy Dam Collapse, 2019

http://www.peoplepower21.org/index.php?mid=English&document_srl=1654038" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.peoplepower21.org/index.php?mid=English&document_srl=1654038<...

 

[8] Vientiane Time, Investigators: Dam collapse not a “force majeure” event, May 9, 2019

 

https://www.forum-asia.org/?p=30268" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Forum-Asia website >> 

수, 2019/11/06- 02:01
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라오스 댐 사고 관련 OECD 다국적기업 가이드라인 위반 이의 제기 1차 평가, SK건설과 한국서부발전 조정 절차 결정 환영 

SK건설과 한국서부발전은 한국 NCP의 조정 절차에 성실히 임해야 

선례 없다는 이유로 한국수출입은행 기각 결정은 아쉬워

 

지난 9월 25일, OECD 다국적기업 가이드라인 한국 연락사무소(이하 한국 NCP)는 라오스 세피안·세남노이 댐 사고 관련 OECD 다국적기업 가이드라인 위반 이의 제기에 대한 1차 평가를 발표했다. 한국 NCP는 사안의 중대성과 이해관계 등을 고려하여 SK건설과 한국서부발전에 대해 향후 조정 절차를 주선하겠다고 결정했다. 반면, 한국수출입은행은 공적개발원조(ODA) 집행기관으로 OECD 다국적기업 가이드라인 적용 대상이 아니라며, 조정 절차에서 제외하였다. 라오스 세피안·세남노이 댐 사고 대응 한국 시민사회 TF(이하 한국시민사회 TF)는 한국 NCP의 SK건설과 한국서부발전에 대한 조정 절차 결정을 환영하며, SK건설과 한국서부발전이 향후 조정 절차에 충실히 임할 것을 촉구한다. 다만, 한국 NCP가 한국수출입은행을 조정 절차에서 제외하기로 한 결정은 매우 아쉽다. 

 

한국시민사회 TF는 http://www.peoplepower21.org/index.php?mid=International&page=2&document... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">지난 6월 17일, 라오스 댐 사고 관련하여 한국수출입은행, SK건설, 한국서부발전이 OECD 다국적기업 가이드라인을 위반하였다고 진정을 제기한 바 있다. 구체적으로 △댐의 설계와 시공에 문제가 있었다는 점 △SK건설과 한국서부발전의 비상방류시기 실기로 인해 피해가 확대된 점 △댐 붕괴 당시 댐 주변 지역 주민들에게 대피 안내 등 적절한 조치를 취하지 않은 점 △환경영향평가보고서의 환경위험대응계획 마련 언급에도 불구하고 안전 대책을 시행하지 않은 점 △한국수출입은행이 운용 및 금융 자문 계약 이행과정에서 예상 위험 관련 실사를 하지 아니한 점 △시민사회와의 소통을 거부하고 정보공개 요청에 응하지 않고 있다는 점을 지적했다. 

 

이에 대해 한국 NCP는 SK건설과 한국서부발전이 라오스 댐 사업 시행 주체인 PNPC의 주주로서 지분을 보유하고 있으며, SK건설은 설계와 시공을, 한국서부발전은 완공 후 운영을 담당하기 때문에 한국시민사회 TF의 이의 제기에 있어 이해관계가 인정된다고 판단했다. 또한, 검토 결과 사안이 중대하고 한국시민사회 TF와 SK건설, 한국서부발전 모두 이를 인정하고 있다는 점을 근거로 한국 NCP가 대화 주선을 통해 쟁점 해결에 기여하고, 조정 절차를 진행할 필요가 있다고 밝혔다.  

 

그러나 선례가 없다는 이유로 한국수출입은행을 조정 절차에서 제외하기로 한 결정은 매우 아쉽다. 한국 NCP는 「필리핀 할라우강 다목적 사업」 관련 이의제기 건과 동일하게 한국수출입은행은 국가 정책 목적 달성을 위해 국가 특별법에 따라 설립 운영되는 기관으로 상업성이 없는 사업으로 분류되어, 양허성 자금 지원과 이에 부수되는 금융 자문 활동은 OECD 가이드라인 적용 범위에 해당하지 않는다고 평가했다. 그러나 그 어디에도 ‘상업성이 수반되어야만 다국적기업의 가이드라인 적용 대상이 된다’고 설명하고 있거나 그렇게 해석될 여지가 있는 부분은 없다. 그런데도 한국 NCP는 타국 NCP사례를 언급하며, 공적개발원조에 대해 가이드라인을 적용한 사례가 없다는 주장만 반복하고 있다. 한국 NCP는 모든 금융지원을 포함하여 예외 없이 OECD 다국적기업 가이드라인을 적용하는 등 선제적인 조치를 취해야 한다.  

 

라오스 댐 사고가 발생한 지 1년이 지났다. 이 비극적인 사고로 라오스 주민들은 많은 것을 잃었다. 언제 다시 일상으로 돌아갈 수 있을지 알지 못한 채 열악한 캠프에서 생활하고 있다. 한국시민사회TF는 한국 NCP의 SK건설과 한국서부발전에 대한 조정 절차가 피해자들에 대한 실질적인 구제 조치로 이어지고, 나아가 재발 방지 대책을 조속히 마련하는 데 기여하기를 바란다. 한국 조속히 조정 절차를 주선하고, SK건설과 한국서부발전은 추후 조정 절차에 책임 있게 임해야 할 것이다. 한국수출입은행 역시 공적개발원조 집행기관으로서 그 역할과 책임을 다해야 할 것이다.  

 

논평 [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Thz5rYCaqaSKyejoPCHew00yKIBMyCKrnrMy... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">원문보기/다운로드]

별첨. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1bK1dYrBxytfytTLNPgZw9xuPtrHZD7uC" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">라오스 댐 관련 NCP 1차 평가서 

목, 2019/10/10- 18:11
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포스코 인터내셔널의 팜유 사업장에서 발생한 환경, 인권 문제,

OECD 국내연락사무소 진정서 제출 브리핑 기자간담회

 

■ 일시 : 2019년 12월 12일(목) 10:30 - 11:30

■ 장소 : 서울 종로구 율곡로 47, 504호 공익법센터 어필 공간 사이다

■ 주최 : 기업과인권 네트워크

■ 진행일정

○ 발제1: OECD 다국적기업가이드라인 NCP 진정의 의의, 나현필 (국제민주연대 사무국장)

○ 발표 2: 포스코인터내셔널의 팜유 사업장에서 발생하고 있는 환경 사회문제, 정신영 (공익법센터 어필 상근변호사)

○ 발표 3: 한국 공공금융기관의 포스코인터내셔널 투자의 문제, 김종철 (공익법센터 어필 상근변호사)

  1. OECD 다국적기업가이드라인 (이하 ‘OECD가이드라인’)은 다국적기업에 의한 인권침해를 예방하고 구제에 대한 해결기준을 마련하기 위한 규범입니다. 기업들이 가이드라인을 위반하는 경우, 이해관계자들은 한국 NCP(National Contact Point)를 통해 이의제기 절차를 진행할 수 있습니다.

 

  1. 포스코 인터내셔널은 인도네시아 파푸아 지역에 팜유 사업장을 운영하며 삼림 파괴, 지역주민들의 자유로운 사전인지동의 위반 및 물에 대한 권리를 침해하였습니다. 그러나 사업장에서 발생한 문제들을 파악하고 이에 대한 구제책을 제공하지 않았습니다. 환경사회 선언문 및 행동준칙을 도입하고 자발적 인증기구의 가입 및 고보존가치구역 지정 등의 방안을 도입하였으나 이러한 방안은 이미 일어난 피해를 복구하거나 앞으로의 피해를 예방하기에 충분한 조치라고 볼 수 없습니다.

 

  1. 국민연금은 2010년 이후로 포스코 인터내셔널의 최대 기관투자자이며 2018년 기준 5.6%의 지분을 보유하고 있습니다. 국민연금은 포스코 인터내셔널의 파푸아 사업장에서 발생하는 환경, 인권 문제에 대해 2017년 이후로 인지하고 있었음에도 불구하고 아무런 조치를 취하지 않고 있는데, 이는 OECD 가이드라인 상의 기관투자자의 책임을 다하지 못한 것입니다.

 

  1. 수출입은행은 해외사업 지원을 위한 현지법인사업자금으로 2012년부터 2018년까지 포스코 인터내셔널의 현지법인에 총 115,125,000 미달러를 융자 지원하였습니다. 대출을 비롯한 다양한 방법으로 금융기관들은 기업의 환경 및 인권침해에 대해 연관이 될 수 있으며 이를 예방하기 위한 대책들을 마련해야하지만 수출입은행은 이를 이행하지 못하였습니다.

 

  1. 이에 해외진출 한국기업의 환경, 인권 문제에 대해 모니터링해 온 기업과인권 네트워크와 인도네시아 환경인권단체인 PUSAKA, SKP-KAME, WALHI Papua는 공동으로 한국 NCP 에 이의를 제기하여 포스코 인터내셔널과 공적금융기관인 국민연금, 수출입은행의 OECD 가이드라인 위반 여부에 대한 판단과 해당 기관들과의 논의의 장을 마련하도록 요청하게 되었습니다.

 

  1. 귀 언론사의 많은 관심과 취재를 부탁드립니다.

 

기업과인권네트워크 (KTNC WATCH)
공익법센터 어필/공익인권법재단 공감/공익인권변호사모임 희망을 만드는 법/국제민주연대/민주사회를 위한 변호사 모임 노동위원회/전국민주노동조합총연맹/좋은기업센터/환경운동연합
수, 2019/12/11- 21:24
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Seoul, December 12, 2019 - Korean Transnational Corporations Watch (KTNC Watch), Yayasan Pusaka (Indonesia), WALHI Papua (Indonesia), and SKP KAMe (Indonesia), filed a complaint at Korea’s National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) against POSCO International and two Korean public financial institutions, the Korean National Pension Service (NPS) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM).

The complaint concerns POSCO International, the controlling owner, and the NPS and KEXIM, the financers of POSCO International. The complaint is related to the adverse impacts caused by the operation of the palm oil company PT. Bio Inti Agrindo (PT. BIA), a subsidiary of POSCO International in Papua, Indonesia. The adverse impacts include large-scale deforestation of tropical rainforest and loss of biodiversity; failure to implement Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) with the customary owners of the land in the process of developing the plantation; and violation of local residents’ right to water by degrading the Bian River water quality.

※You can download the full report here

 

목, 2019/12/12- 21:38
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NGOs from Korea and Indonesia file OECD complaint against POSCO International for causing palm oil abuses and National Pension Service and the Export-Import Bank of Korea for financing the abuses

 

Seoul, December 12, 2019 – Today Korean Transnational Corporations Watch (KTNC Watch), Yayasan Pusaka (Indonesia), WALHI Papua (Indonesia), and SKP KAMe (Indonesia), filed a complaint at Korea’s National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) against POSCO International and two Korean public financial institutions, the Korean National Pension Service (NPS) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM).

 

The complaint concerns POSCO International, the controlling owner, and the NPS and KEXIM, the financers of POSCO International. The complaint is related to the adverse impacts caused by the operation of the palm oil company PT. Bio Inti Agrindo (PT. BIA), a subsidiary of POSCO International in Papua, Indonesia. The adverse impacts include large-scale deforestation of tropical rainforest and loss of biodiversity; failure to implement Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) with the customary owners of the land in the process of developing the plantation; and violation of local residents’ right to water by degrading the Bian River water quality.

 

The complaint is supported by evidence of misconduct by PT. BIA, which is owned by POSCO International. POSCO International has not addressed the deforestation carried out by PT. BIA or put in place policies to prevent further deforestation. Allegations were repeatedly made in regard to violation of the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), but POSCO International failed to provide a proper remedy to stakeholders. Due to the degradation of the water quality of the Bian River, local residents can no longer use the water from the river for their daily activities or drinking. However, no measures were taken to ensure that the right to water of the local residents is protected.

 

Under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (the Guidelines hereinafter), corporations have a duty to respect human rights and address adverse impacts when they occur. Corporations should avoid causing the adverse impacts and should provide remedies when the adverse impacts occur. However, measures taken by POSCO International serve as neither remedies for the harms occurred nor due diligence policies to prevent or mitigate further adverse impacts.

 

Meanwhile, the Guidelines require the corporations to seek to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts directly linked to financial services by a business relationship. NPS, as an institutional shareholder of POSCO International, should engage with the investee companies damaging shareholder value, but NPS has failed to meaningfully engage with POSCO International despite its awareness on the adverse impacts. KEXIM also failed to review the reasonably foreseeable risk in the palm oil industry when it decided to provide the loans to POSCO International’s subsidiary in Papua.

 

The Norwegian Government Pension Fund and the Dutch pension fund ABP have divested from POSCO International on the grounds of deforestation, and the Korean media has covered the relevant issues in relation to PT. BIA’s operation. Despite this the NPS continues to hold a more than five percent share in POSCO International, and KEXIM has provided loans for PT. BIA’s operations.

 

Y.L. Franky, the Director of Yayasan Pusaka stated, “The palm oil industry creates many difficulties for the indigenous people of Papua. The forest they have depended on is disappearing and social conflicts due to land disputes are on the increase.” Pastor Anselmus Amo, the Director of SKP KAMe reiterated that the local residents have suffered since PT. BIA began operating the plantation and further explained, “Daily life has been made particularly difficult for local residents by the now polluted river water. However, local residents do not know where to go to raise these issues.” Shin Young Chung, KTNC Watch lawyer also pointed out, “Well-known pension funds have withdrawn their investments, and public financial institutions in Korea should also adopt policies to consider environmental and social impacts of the business.” She hopes the NCP will make a decision that will bring actual change to the behaviour of POSCO International and the financers.

 

The complainants request that the Korean NCP facilitate dialogue to persuade POSCO International to acknowledge the deforestation they have caused and provide the remediation. They also call on POSCO International to adopt and publish a comprehensive group-wide cross-commodity No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation (NDPE) policy to prevent further damages. It is also requested that POSCO International implement FPIC in their operation and ensure the right to water of the local communities relying on the Bian River.

 

They also request that the NPS engage with POSCO International to use their leverage and consider deforestation and infringement of the rights of indigenous people in their policies for socially responsible investment. The complainants request KEXIM to adopt policies for reviewing environmental and social risks in developing natural resources overseas and refrain from providing further loans to support PT. BIA’s operations that are causing adverse impacts.

 

Various other NGOs, such as WALHI Kalimantan Tengah (Friends of the Earth Indonesia), Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands), Friends of the Earth Melbourne, Friends of Earth U.S. support the filing of this complaint against POSCO International, NPS and KEXIM by KTNC Watch, Yayasan Pusaka, SKP KAMe and WALHI Papua.

 

Note for editors
For more information or interview requests you can contact:

KTNC Watch: Shin Young Chung (Attorney-at-Law), [email protected], +82-2-3478-0529

Yayasan Pusaka: Franky Samperante (Director), [email protected], +62-21 -7892137

 SKP KAMe: Father Anselmo Amo (Director), [email protected]

 WALHI Papua: Aiesh Rumbekwan (Executive Director), [email protected],  +62 813 4452 4394

 

※You can download the full report here

목, 2019/12/12- 22:14
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11월 25일(월)부터 한-아세안 특별정상회의, 한-메콩 특별정상회의가 연달아 열릴 예정이다. 문재인 정부는 아세안과의 협력 강화를 위해 사람(people), 번영(prosperity), 평화(peace) 3P 원칙을 표방하는 신남방 정책을 추진해오고 있다. 하지만 한국은 아세안 국가들과 이러한 원칙에 따라 잘 관계 맺고 있을까? 몇 가지 이슈를 통해 살펴본다. - 기자 주

 

http://www.peoplepower21.org/index.php?mid=International&document_srl=16... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">댐 붕괴됐는데 하루 수당 700원... 사과도 보상도 모르쇠


 

댐 붕괴됐는데 하루 수당 700원... 사과도 보상도 모르쇠

[한·아세안 특별정상회의 연속기고①] 라오스 댐 사고로 삶의 터전 잃은 메콩강 주민들... 진정 '아세안' 협력 원한다면

 

이영아 (참여연대 국제연대위원회 활동가)

 

 

http://ojsfile.ohmynews.com/STD_IMG_FILE/2018/0725/IE002369197_STD.jpg" style="width:600px;height:450px;" />

▲  지난 2018년 7월 SK건설이 라오스에서 시공 중인 대형 수력발전댐의 보조댐이 붕괴해 주민 다수가 숨지고 수백 명이 실종하는 사고가 발생했다. 당시 라오스통신(KPL)에 따르면 7월 23일 오후 8시께(현지시간) 라오스 남동부 아타프 주에 있는 세피안-세남노이 수력발전댐의 보조댐이 무너져 인근 6개 마을로 50억 ㎥의 물이 아래 6개 마을로 한꺼번에 쏟아졌다. 피해 지역 라오스 주민들이 보트로 긴급히 대피하고 있다.ⓒ 연합뉴스 = 라오스통신 제공

 

 

한국이 떠들썩하다. 오는 11월 25일부터 27일까지 부산에서 개최되는 한·아세안 특별정상회의와 한·메콩 정상회의 관련 기사가 하루에도 수십 개씩 쏟아진다. 정상회의를 앞두고 문재인 대통령은 "이번 한·아세안 특별정상회의와 한·메콩 정상회의는 우리 정부가 추진해 온 신남방정책의 중간 결산"이며 "신남방정책은 대한민국 국가 발전 전략의 핵심"이라고 강조했다.

 

그동안 정부는 아세안을 '마지막 남은 기회의 땅'이라 홍보하며, 한국 경제의 돌파구로 여겨왔다. 이번 한·아세안 특별정상회의를 계기로 정부는 메콩 유역 5개국과 '한국·메콩 수자원 관리 공동연구 협력 협약'을 체결할 예정이다. 그동안 메콩 개발 사업에 한국 기업이 진출할 수 있도록 메콩 유역 국가들에게 적극적으로 '러브콜'을 보내온 한국은 라오스에만 세피안-세남노이 댐, 세폰, 세폰3, 남닉에 수력발전소 건설을 진행하고 있다. 

 

그러나 무분별한 개발은 지역 주민의 삶을 위협한다. 메콩 유역의 경쟁적인 댐 건설은 환경과 생태계를 파괴하고 있으며, 강 인근 주민의 삶과 소수 민족의 전통문화를 파괴하고 있다. 하류 지역 국가는 극심한 가뭄과 식수난으로 어려움을 겪고 있으며, 메콩강에서 고기를 잡으며 생활하던 주민들은 어획량 감소로 생활고를 겪고 있다.

 

송두리째 빼앗긴 삶

 

모두가 기억하듯이 지난 2018년 라오스 세피안·세남노이 댐이 붕괴했다. 이 사고로 지역 주민 수십 명이 목숨을 잃고, 수천 명의 이재민이 발생했다. 세피안·세남노이 댐 붕괴 사고는 단순한 사고가 아니다. 거대 자본과 정부가 개발 이익을 챙겨가고, 개발로 인한 위험은 고스란히 지역 주민이 떠안았다. 댐에서 생산한 전력 90%는 라오스가 아닌 태국 등 인근 국가로 수출된다.

 

'아시아의 배터리'가 되겠다며 무분별한 수력발전 사업을 추진해온 라오스 정부는 경제적 이익을, 시공사 기업들은 개발 이익을 차지하는 사업이었다. 댐 건설 지역에 사는 지역주민들은 개발사업으로 인한 이익은커녕 생태계 파괴와 강제 이주로 인한 고통을 고스란히 떠안았다. 그것도 모자라 가족을 잃고, 생활 터전을 송두리째 빼앗겼다.

 

알려진 대로 라오스 세피안·세남노이 댐 사업은 한국수출입은행 대외경제협력기금(EDCF)이 최초로 지원한 민관협력사업(PPP)으로 공적개발원조(ODA) 955억 원이 지원됐다. 당시 기재부는 '원조'와 '수출'을 결합한 새로운 복합금융 모델이라며 사업을 대대적으로 홍보했다. ODA가 무엇인가? 개도국의 빈곤 퇴치와 인도주의 실현을 목적으로 사용되는 국민 세금이다. 이런 ODA 사업에서 지역 주민 수천 명이 생활 터전을 잃고, 수백 명이 실종, 수십 명이 생명을 잃은 것이다. 

 

아무도 책임지지 않는 사고

 

"작년 사고로 우리는 사랑하는 가족을 잃고 집과 농경지, 농작물도 다 잃었어요. 지금 생활하고 있는 임시 대피소는 너무 열악해요. 화장실은 고장난 지 오래되었고. 식수는 물론 생활용수로 사용할 물도 없어요. 물을 구하기 위해 강이나 다른 지역으로 가서 물을 길어와요. 우리에겐 희망이 없어요.. 정부가 우리를 도와주길 기다릴 뿐이에요."

 

- 라오스 세피안-세남노이 댐 사고 피해 지역 주민

 

사고가 발생한 지 1년 4개월이 지났지만 피해 지역 주민들은 여전히 임시 대피소에서 생활하고 있다. 언제 다시 일상으로 돌아갈 수 있을지 알 수 없다. 정부로부터 월 20kg의 쌀과 생활비로 하루에 5000킵(약 700원)의 수당을 받고 있지만, 턱없이 부족하다.

 

지난 9월 라오스를 방문한 문재인 대통령은 "피해 지역 주민들이 안정적인 삶의 터전으로 돌아가도록 한국 정부가 앞으로도 최선을 다해 지원하겠다"고 밝혔다. 그러나 한국 정부와 SK건설, 한국 서부발전은 지금까지 사고에 대한 공식적인 사과도 공식적인 배·보상도 진행하지 않았다. 정상외교 후속조치로 라오스 아타프주 피해 지역 복구에 2020년 한국국제협력단(KOICA) 예산 50억 원이 책정되었을 뿐이다.

 

SK건설은 댐 사고의 원인이 '인재'라고 발표한 라오스 국가조사위원회의 조사 결과에 대해 즉각 반발하며 재조사를 요청했다. 사업 시행 주체임에도 지금까지 사고에 대한 그 어떤 대응도 하지 않았던 기재부와 한국수출입은행은 피해 지역 상황에 대해 전혀 파악하고 있지 못했다. 지난 21일 피해 지역 주민들의 임시 대피소 생활, 보상 현황 등을 묻는 참여연대 문의에 한국수출입은행 대외경제협력기금 관계자는 "영구 거주지역이 건설 중인 걸로 알고 있다. 피해 지역 주민들에게 지원될 예정이다. 그게 다 보상인데..."하며 말끝을 흐렸다.

 

아무것도 해결되지 않았는데 재개된 보조댐 공사는 지난 11월 4일 완공되어, 세피안·세남노이 댐은 오는 12월 6일 상업 운영될 예정이다.

 

"아무런 희망이 없"는 피해 지역 주민들은 여전히 라오스 댐 사고가 발생한 2018년 7월 23일을 살고 있다. 문재인 정부의 신남방정책, '사람 중심 평화 번영 공동체'는 라오스 지역 주민들에게 너무나 먼 이야기다.

 

공허한 '사람 중심 평화 번영 공동체'

 

신남방정책 일환으로 메콩강 지역에서 인프라 구축, 수자원 개발을 진행할 예정인 정부는 한·아세안 특별정상회의 환영 만찬에 최태원 SK그룹 회장을 초대했다. 라오스 세피안·세남노이 댐 사고의 책임이 있고 고(故) 김용균 씨가 일했던 한국 서부발전은 2016년~2018년까지 3회에 걸쳐 '안전 경영 대상'을 수상했다.

 

문재인 정부가 말하는 '사람 중심 평화 번영 공동체'에는 라오스 댐 사고로 많은 것을 잃은 라오스 지역 주민과 가뭄, 마구잡이 댐 건설로 삶이 위협받고 있는 메콩강 주변의 지역 주민이 설자리가 있는가?

 

정부가 진정 아세안에서 '사람 중심의 평화 번영 공동체'를 실현하기를 원한다면, 아세안에서 한국 경제의 활로를 모색하는 데에만 골몰할 것이 아니라 아세안에서 한국의 역할과 책임을 다해야 할 것이다. 그것이 '사람 중심의 평화 번영 공동체'를 실현하는 길이자 아세안과의 협력을 강화하는 첫 시작이다.

 

오마이뉴스에서 보기 >> http://omn.kr/1lppp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://omn.kr/1lppp

 

화, 2019/11/26- 00:40
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「국제개발협력 책무성 증진을 위한 세이프가드 제도 개선 방안」 이슈리포트 발행 

세이프가드 제도 의무화하고 책무성 메커니즘 마련해야

 

오늘(12/17) 참여연대 국제연대위원회는 이슈리포트 「국제개발협력 책무성 증진을 위한 세이프가드 제도 개선방안」을 발행했다. 

 

‘세이프가드’는 대규모 개발 사업에서 발생하는 환경적·사회적·인권적 피해를 예방하고 이를 최소화하기 위한 제도로, 국제사회는 이를 기초로 피해 지역 주민들이 직접 이의 제기할 수 있는 책무성 메커니즘을 마련하고 정보공개를 확대하는 등 개발협력 사업의 투명성과 책무성을 제고하기 위한 노력을 기울여왔다. 한국 정부 역시 국제사회의 흐름에 부응하기 위해 세이프가드 정책을 수립해 시행하고 있지만 현행 세이프가드 제도는 여러 문제점을 드러내고 있다. 이에 대해 참여연대는 이슈리포트를 통해 제반 문제점을 살펴보고 개선 방향을 제시하고자 했다. 

 

구체적으로 참여연대는 이슈리포트를 통해 한국의 현행 유·무상원조 세이프가드 제도가 ▷선별적인 세이프가드 적용 ▷독립적인 심사기구 부재 ▷환경사회영향평가 등 관련 정보 비공개 ▷책무성 메커니즘 부재 등 많은 문제가 있다고 지적했다. 또한, 세이프가드 적용 사업이라 할지라도 <필리핀 할라우강 다목적사업(2단계)>과 <라오스 세피안·세남노이 댐 건설 사업>과 같이 세이프가드가 제대로 작동되고 있지 않다고 지적하며 세이프가드 개정의 필요성을 강조했다. 

 

참여연대는 한국 정부가 원조 기관으로서의 역할과 책임을 강화하기 위해서는 ▷모든 사업에 세이프가드 전면 의무화 ▷심사 전문성과 공정성 확보 ▷정보공개 확대를 통한 투명성 강화 ▷모니터링 및 사후 평가 조치 마련 ▷책무성 메커니즘 마련 등을 제안했다. 아울러 참여연대는 그동안 한국 국제개발협력의 세이프가드 필요성이 꾸준히 제기되어 온 만큼 한국수출입은행 대외경제협력기금(EDCF)과 한국국제협력단(KOICA)는 개정 과정에서 다양한 이해관계자의 의견을 수렴하고 국제사회의 사례를 참고하여 투명성과 책무성을 제고할 수 있는 방향으로 세이프가드를 개정해야 한다고 강조했다. 

 

이슈리포트의 목차는 아래와 같다.  

 


목차

 

요약

왜 책무성인가

책무성 제고를 위한 국제사회의 흐름

한국 세이프가드 현황 및 문제점

책무성 제고를 위한 세이프가드 개선 방안 


 

보도자료 [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZncmQExkt61m2a7pOd_9GvqWpZ7PtCaMRogo... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">원문보기/다운로드]

이슈리포트 <국제개발협력 책무성 증진을 위한 세이프가드 제도 개선방안> [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zf3h7ng-3JMBMI1pfZF8xOuJRHUW2MuMOTVh... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">원문보기/다운로드] 

화, 2019/12/17- 22:15
1
0

21대 총선에서 다뤄져야 할 정책과제

투명하고 책임있는 ODA를 위한 제도 개선

 


참여연대는 오늘(3/30), http://www.peoplepower21.org/Politics/1694286" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><21대 총선에서 다뤄져야 할 정책과제>를 발표했습니다.

 

선거가 불과 보름 여 앞으로 다가왔음에도 불구하고, 거대 양당의 비례 위성정당 경쟁으로 정책과 공약에 대한 논의는 거의 이루어지지 않고 있습니다. 후보자 등록이 완료되고 본격 선거운동이 시작되는 만큼, 지금부터라도 자산불평등 해소와 공공의료 확충, 주거권 보호, 검찰⋅경찰⋅국정원 권력기관 개혁, 한반도 평화와 군축 등 한국 사회 전반의 심화되는 사회⋅경제적 불평등을 개선하고 미진한 권력기관 개혁을 끝까지 추진하며 한반도 평화 프로세스를 촉진하기 위한 정책 경쟁이 이루어져야 합니다.

 

이에 참여연대는 21대 총선에서 다뤄져야 할 7대 분야 49개 정책과제를 제안합니다. 참여연대는 21대 국회에서 이러한 과제들이 제대로 입법⋅정책화되도록 다양한 활동을 진행할 예정입니다.


 

현황과 문제점

 

  • 한국 공적개발원조(ODA) 추진 체계는 기획재정부에서 관할하는 유상원조와 외교부에서 관할하는 무상원조로 이원화되어 있음. 그동안 정부는 부처 간 이견과 실질적 통합의 어려움을 이유로 유·무상 통합과 무상원조 집행기관 일원화는 유예하고, 총리실 산하에 국제개발협력위원회, 외교부 산하에 무상원조관계기관협의회를 설치하여 심의·조정 역할을 부여해왔음. 그러나 유·무상 원조 연계는 원활하지 않았고 실무 부처 간의 이해관계를 조정하기에는 역부족이었으며, 사실상 원조 통합을 위한 조정 기능은 제대로 발현되지 못했음.

  • 최근 정부는 ODA 추진 체계 분절화 문제를 해결하기 위한 방안으로 국개위 기능을 강화하는 추진체계 개편안을 마련함. 그러나 이원화된 구조를 그대로 두고 국개위만 강화해서는 국제개발협력의 효과성과 책무성 강화를 위한 원조 통합은 실현하기 어려움.

  • 국제원조투명성캠페인 조직인 ‘Publish What You Fund’는 한국 무상원조 기관인 한국국제협력단(KOICA)의 원조 투명성 지수를 전 세계 45개 기관 중 38위(2018년), ‘하위’그룹으로 분류함. 정부는 지난 2016년 국제원조투명성이니셔티브(IATI) 가입을 확정하고 IATI 기준 38개 항목 중 13개 필수항목을 공개하였으나 가장 기본적인 정보만이 포함될 뿐, ODA 사업이 효과적이고 체계적으로 집행되는지 확인할 수 있는 사업예산, 집행계획, 사업결과, 구속성 현황 등의 정보는 공개 대상에서 빠짐.

  • 한편, 국제사회는 대규모 개발 사업이 미치는 환경적·사회적·인권적 악영향을 예방하고 지역 주민의 권리를 보호하기 위해 세이프가드 정책을 수립하여 시행하고 있음. 한국수출입은행 대외경제협력기금(EDCF)과 한국국제협력단(KOICA) 역시 세이프가드 제도를 도입해 시행하고 있으나, 일부 사업에 한해 세이프가드를 적용하거나 독립적인 심사기구가 부재하며 환경사회영향평가 등 관련 정보를 비공개하는 등의 문제가 있음. 

 

실천 과제

 

1.원조 분절화 극복을 위한 유·무상 통합 기구 설치

  • 유·무상으로 이원화된 ODA 집행 체계를 하나로 일원화하는 통합 기구를 설치해야 함.

 

2. ODA 투명성과 책무성, 효율성 증진을 위해 정보공개 범위 및 주체 확대

  • 유·무상 원조 사업 관련 정보를 국제기준(IATI 기준 38개 항목)에 맞춰 공개하도록 하고, 유상원조 시행기관인 EDCF와 무상원조 시행기관인 KOICA 이외에 ODA를 시행하고 있는 중앙·지방행정기관 및 산하기관까지 정보공개 주체를 확대하도록 해야 함.

  • 사업 결정과 집행 관련 회의의 계획과 안건을 사전에 공개하고, 회의결과도 전면 공개하도록 해야 함.

 

3. 세이프가드 전면 도입

  • 원조기관의 역할과 책임을 강화하기 위해 유·무상 원조 모든 사업에 세이프가드 적용을 전면 의무화해야 함.

  • 더불어 ▷심사 전문성과 공정성 확보 ▷정보공개 확대를 통한 투명성 강화 ▷모니터링 및 사후 평가 조치 마련 ▷책무성 메커니즘 마련 등이 이루어지도록 해야 함.

 

참여연대 담당 부서 : 국제연대위원회 (02-723-5051)

 

>> 21대 총선에서 다뤄져야 할 49개 정책과제 보도자료와 정책자료집 전문은 아래 링크에서 확인하실 수 있습니다.  

보도자료 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DwYrEcSJCHfdAew_F8fj6osi34setVISOKAM... style="background:0px 0px;color:rgb(102,153,204);" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[원문보기/다운로드]

정책자료집 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LkU1xmED8muK0AR_KWTgxByp-wXQi-D-y8DZ... style="background:0px 0px;color:rgb(102,153,204);" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[원문보기/다운로드]

 

화, 2020/03/31- 08:30
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http://www.peoplepower21.org/files/attach/images/37219/103/790/001/d7b9e... style="width:800px;" />

웹세미나

정부·시민사회 파트너십 기본정책 이행방안 성과와 과제 

일시 : 2021년 5월 14일(금) 오후 2시, 온라인

 

지난 2019년 국제개발협력 시민사회 및 정부가 공동으로 마련한 <국제개발협력분야 정부-시민사회 파트너십 기본정책(이하, 기본정책)>이 채택되었습니다. 2년의 시간이 흐른 지난 2월 18일, “정부-시민사회 정례정책협의회”를 통해 <정부-시민사회 파트너십 기본정책 이행방안(이하, 이행방안)> 최종결과문서를 도출하게 되었습니다. 

 

발표된 이행방안에는 2021년에서 2025년까지 5년간 정부(일부 시민사회)가 이행할 ▷효과적인 국제개발협력 이행 ▷투명성과 책무성 제고 ▷취약층 지원 및 협력 확대 ▷국제개발협력 인지제고 및 국민 참여 확대 등 4가지 전략에 대한 31개 과제가 포함되었습니다. 

 

본 기본정책과 이행방안은 정부와 시민사회가 공동의 노력으로 작성하였으며, 상호 합의한 문서라는 점에서 협력의 주체인 정부와 시민사회 모두 그 이행과 결과에 대한 책무가 있습니다.

 

이에 기본 정책과 이행방안의 내용을 살펴보고, 정부와 시민사회, 그리고 시민사회 간 공동의 노력을 위해 무엇을 해야 하는지 논의하고자 합니다. 많은 관심과 참여를 부탁드립니다.

 

개요 

일시 2021년 5월 14일(금), 14시

장소 온라인 ZOOM (추후 안내 예정)

공동주최 국제개발협력시민사회포럼(KoFID), 국제개발협력민간협의회(KCOC)

신청링크  https://forms.gle/itmPqc7mVLGXwH1P6" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://forms.gle/itmPqc7mVLGXwH1P6

문의  KCOC 정책교육센터 한상필 과장 (070-4893-0708) 

 

발표자료1. https://drive.google.com/file/d/10vuZLdjAP0A1sF2VPzytQge7UjIrd7Yr/view?u... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">정부-시민사회 파트너십 기본정책 작성배경, 과정, 의미

발표자료2. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aWSBir-5Om8ND6dgPbUIhprO9cJnPID0/view?u... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">효과적인 국제개발협력 이행을 위한 과제

발표자료3. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vVKtuI3ntTlvlkGAKfoaRUy4uSSBEeZB/view?u... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">투명성과 책무성 제고를 위한 과제

발표자료4. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qp2INCwd46C5KxB_jTeFyfwUI0zmrHGO/view?u... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">취약층 우선 지원 협력 확대를 위한 과제

발표자료5. https://drive.google.com/file/d/119saTiFr40ThcQfoxHtIWaNqD9VJjT1F/view?u... target="_blank" rel="nofollow">국제개발협력 인지제고 및 국민 참여를 위한 과제 

 

참고문서. https://www.odakorea.go.kr/hz.blltn.domesticReportSl.do" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">파트너십 기본정책 이행방안

 

토, 2021/05/15- 01:01
1
0

[논평]영산강유역물관리위 영산강 2개보 원안 의결, 국가위 조속히 확정해야

환경부는 28일 보도자료를 통해 영산강섬진강유역물관리위원회(이하 ‘영산강유역위’)가 승촌보 상시개방, 죽산보 해체를 의결했다고 밝혔다. 이로써 19년 2월 환경부 4대강조사평가기획위원회가 제시했던 금강/영산강 보처리방안은 유역물관리위원회의 모든 검토와 동의 과정을 마쳤다. 4대강재자연화시민위원회는 유역물관리위원회의 결정을 존중하고, 국가물관위원회의 조속한 최종 확정을 촉구한다.

 

영산강유역위는 승촌보 인근 취양수장의 조속한 물이용대책 추진을 요구했으며, 죽산보는 당장의 수질개선효과가 나타나지는 않았지만, 장기적 관점에서 보 해체의 필요성에 공감한다고 밝히며, 해체 시기와 절차에 지역 의견을 충분히 고려해야한다는 의견을 덧붙였다. 국가물관리위는 유역 내 우려 의견을 충분히 고려하되, 실행시기 등 구체적으로 정리되지 않은 사안에 대해서도 점검해서 신속한 추진을 결정해야 할 것이다.

 

오랫동안 지체되어온 금강/영산강 보 처리방안이 드디어 한매듭을 지었다. 아직 국가물관리위원회 의결이 남아있고, 한강/낙동강 보처리방안 마련과 개방이라는 과제가 기다리고 있다. 국민들이 단단하게 지지하고 있는 4대강 자연성회복 국정과제를 더이상 좌고우면 할 이유가 없다.

 

 

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4대강재자연화시민위원회

화, 2020/09/29- 04:05
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