"Thailand?s state-controlled gas firm signed up for two expensive gas deals that it later realized it didn?t want. Burma has used the revenue to finance an arms build-up. In 1989 with the treasury bare, Burma?s ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council, or SLORC, as the junta then called itself, opened up petroleum exploration to foreign oil companies. In the short term Rangoon profited from signing bonuses paid for exploration blocks. If any of the firms struck commercially viable oil or gas, Burma would collect free rents from petroleum exports that would help maintain an unelected, unpopular administration in power..."