Shan People Don

Shan People Don't Want the Salween Dam: Shan Villagers

SNA, S.H.A.N.'s reporter in eastern Shan State, reported from Kengtung, that a visit to the villages in mid-October along the Salween had convinced him people there were in great fear of the dam project. 

SNA said he visited the villages on both banks of the Salween and talked to the people there. "I was accompanied by Sai Wan, 23, from Hparnglarng, 7 miles west of the Takaw Bridge on the river Salween, and Sai Inn, 25, from Sawnglak, 2 miles east of the bridge". 

The villagers told them they had been worried about their future ever since "a group of foreigners" began surveying the area early this year. The group was believed to be members of the AAM, a consultant firm working in contract for the GMS Power, a Thai engineering company. It was reportedly escorted by a unit from the 7th Brigade, Shan State Army North, a ceasefire group, stationed in Kali, Loilem District, "in order to avoid unnecessary clashes with the SSA South of Yawdserk". 

"In our opinion, there is no need for them to spend time and money doing Social Impact Assessment (SIA) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) anymore", said a villager, "since they are going to destroy both the society and the environment anyway and are not going to say sorry to us, let alone paying compensations for our losses".