When natural gas finally begins to flow through the pipeline, the lack of credible environmental regulations and safety measures will make the Yadana pipeline even more dangerous to the surrounding environment in the event of a pipeline failure or blowout. The Burmese regime is known for its pattern of human rights violations. Persistent human rights abuses are cited in the 1999 US State Department Report on Conditions in Burma , which mentions especially the lack of democracy and the persecution of pro-democracy activists. The current Burmese government does not allow concerned citizens to practice their rights to freedom of speech and consequently does not allow any voices of protest against construction projects to be heard. The military government of Burma does not respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Extrajudicial killings are also a common occurrence.
Amnesty International documented numerous specific cases of abuses in connection with ethnic minorities such as the Karen and the Shan.