Shans Demonstrate Against Salween Dam At ADB Meet

Shans Demonstrate Against Salween Dam At ADB Meet

Shan youths joined NGO demonstrations against the 33rd annual meeting of the Asia Development Bank held in Chiangmai last week, reported a participant. 

In coordination with the Salween Watch, NCGUB (an exiled government formed by the members of parliament elected in 1990), AIPP and some Thai NGOs, the group staged demonstrations in front of the Westin Hotel, where the ADB was meeting, at 14:00 - 17:45 on 7 May and at 10:30 - 14:30 on 8 May, he said. 

Dressed in "Oppose the Salween Dam" T-shirts and waving "Shans Oppose the Salween Dam" posters, the group distributed leaflets in Thai and English and also stickers. A balloon written "Shans Oppose the Salween Dam" was also launched. 

The event marked the first time Shans have made a public protest against the project to build a dam on the Salween between Shan State's Mongpan and Mongton township. A final survey is being conducted at the site by the GMS Power, a company from Thailand. 

A meeting in the Shan State last year also resolved to oppose the project, according to several sources.