The dispersal and arrest of Burmese demonstrators by police in Kuala Lumpur yesterday has been condemned as "highhanded" conduct that is a far cry from the government's aspiration to see democracy and human rights in Burma.

In a statement, Labour Resource Centre co-ordinator K Shan said expressed solidarity with the protesters, whose action in front of the South Korean embassy was in tandem with simultaneous demonstrations in 20 countries.

The Burmese nationals were demonstrating against plans by Daewoo International to invest in an oil and gas exploration and exploitation project - the Shwe gas pipeline - off the coast of Burma's Arakan state. In Kuala Lumpur, 82 protesters were arrested.

"Being the part of the global response to the call from the people of Arakan state, we on this International Day of Action express our solidarity with the struggle for democracy and human rights by the people of Burma and hereby protest against the Shwe Gas Project," said Shan.

He urged the Malaysian government to respect the rights of the protesters to address their concerns and protest in a peaceful manner.

"This is vital since Malaysia does have an official position on democracy and human rights concerning the junta ruling in Burma," he added.

Activists fear that Daewoo's investment - the largest source of revenue yet for the junta - will lead to human rights violations and environmental degradation, and further entrench the military regime.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar was reported to have said that Burma is holding Southeast Asia hostage by refusing to make progress on democratic reform, thereby bringing the region into disrepute.

Syed Hamid visited Burma last month as an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) envoy, but was barred from seeing detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"There is that feeling that we are being held hostage by Myanmar (Burma) on some of the progress," he said.

"We started with a very soft approach but it is getting firmer. Asean is the last hope before people get impatient and stronger views are taken."