Dam on the Salween project revived

Dam on the Salween project revived

The New Era Journal, the widely-read Burmese newspaper, in its May issue, reports the revival of the Tasang hydroelectric dam on the Salween. 

It reports that a soil survey team from Thailand's MDX Company was in Tasang, between Mongton on the eastern side and Mongpan on the western side of the Salween, on 16 April. The project is funded by a Japanese firm named Kanto, says NEJ, and will last until July. 

NEJ also reports that 4,000 families in the village of Nampang, Salween's tributary north of Tasang, had already been removed leaving 3,000 acres of farms untended. 

The report was supported by accounts received by S.H.A.N. lately. One report tells of the arrival of a Mr. Sombat (family name unavailable) from Myanmar-Thai Joint Rivercourse Survey Project in Mongton, 60-miles north of the Chiangmai border on 16 April. The 36-man team brought 3 motor vehicles, 146 items of equipment and 10 ICOM radio transmitters with them. Two battalions: LIB 528 (Mongpiang) and LIB 529 (Tachilek) had been assigned for its security. 

A S.H.A.N. source confirmed yesterday that the MDX had "indeed returned." It had also secured the assistance of Somkid Onman a.k.a. Sia Ord of Thai Sawad Co., whose 13-year experience of working in the area proved to be an asset. "So a few weeks after his expulsion, he's gone back," said the source, explaining that Sia Ord was among those thrown out by the local Burmese authorities following the crackdown on the Wa with whom he enjoyed an excellent relationship. 

Exploration of the Salween began in 1997 by GMS Power, a subsidiary of the MDX, and lasted until the end of 2000. The project has been opposed by environmentalists as well as Shan activists. 

Update: 

Eric Snider, formerly of the weekly Burma Courier, commented "Kanto" might actually be Kansai, a Japanese company that has been supporting some of Rangoon's dam projects.