• Whether they have undertaken due diligence regarding operational impacts on human rights, worker rights, and the environment in Burma; • Whether and how they apply due diligence measures to subsidiaries, subcontractors, and other business partners; • Policies and procedures that address anti-corruption, stakeholder and community engagement, and grievance procedures for employees and affected communities; and • Information on security arrangements, land acquisitions, payments to government entities, and contacts with Burma’s security forces. 35 With some exceptions for particularly sensitive information, disclosures must be made public. While these reporting requirements apply to US companies only, they should be viewed by all companies as defining the basic elements of responsible investment. Approximately 90 companies submitted formal expressions of interest in Burma’s telecommunications licenses by the February 15, 2013 deadline.36 The government approved 12 applicants on April 11, 2013 to move on to the final stage of the tender process.37 Human Rights Watch has written to the international telecommunications operators listed in the Burmese government’s April 11 announcement and requested that each company publicly report on steps it will take to respect human rights in Burma. These telecommunications firms are based in a range of home countries, including China, France, India, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. While the tender is aimed at telecommunications operators, development of the sector will also involve a range of network equipment and mobile phone manufacturers. In addition, as more Burmese users begin to access the Internet, a range of Internet companies may offer services and content in local languages tailored for the Burmese market. ICT and 35 See US Department of State, “Reporting Requirements on Responsible Investment in Burma,” February 2, 2013, http://www.humanrights.gov/2013/02/22/reporting-requirements-on-responsible-investment-in-burma/ (accessed April 8, 2013). 36 See Kyaw Thu and Sharon Chen, “Myanmar Telecom Frontier Draw May Make It Costly: Southeast Asia,” Bloomberg, February 17, 2013, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-17/myanmar-telecom-frontier-draw-may-make-it-costlysoutheast-asia.htm (accessed April 8, 2013). 37 Telecommunication Operator Tender Evaluation and Selection Committee, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, “Announcement of Pre-qualification Applicants That May Submit Applications for Two Nationwide Telecommunications Licences in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar,” April 11, 2013, http://www.mcpt.gov.mm/sites/default/files/list_of_prequalification_applicants.pdf (accessed April 11, 2013). REFORMING TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN BURMA 16