Border remains closed after Rangoon changes mind

Border remains closed after Rangoon changes mind

Environment

The border pass connecting Burma's Shan State with Chiangmai's Chiangdao District stayed sealed on the day road-building materials were be transported to the projected Tasang dam site, 160 km away, reported Hawkeye, S.H.A.N. reporter from Ban Arunothai, opposite Shan State's Mongton township: 

"Military sources here are saying they were informed by the Burmese that the preparations were not in place yet," he said, calling from the border. "Even Wa gates nearby are closed since yesterday. Trucks coming to Arunothai to pick up their relatives turned back empty." 

The source from Thai Sawad, that had been contracted to build a road to the dam site by the MDX, a Bangkok-based real estate and infrastructure development company that had concluded an agreement with Rangoon on 20 December on the construction of Tasang dam, confirmed the fact. "We were asked to make the entry at Tachilek (opposite Chiangrai) instead," said the source who requested his identity be withheld. "As it would entail expenses at least twice as much, our boss (Sia Ord) has decided to just sit back and wait-see." 

Meanwhile, a 22-men team of Thai experts: 3 from MDX and 19 from Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, who were in the Tasang area since 21 January, have been busy erecting wooden stakes (each 3 spans in circumference and 3 cubits in length, painted white at the bottom and red at the tip) on both sides of the river, stretching 2-3 km upstream from the dam site at Tang Hseng, according to locals. "They were also measuring the depth of the river twice each day, morning and evening," said one. 

An executive member of Thai-based Southeast Asia Rivers Network (SEARIN) commented that it was a sign that EGAT was yet to decide whether to "go the whole hog" on Tasarng or choose another site downstream at Weigyi, where the Salween flows between the two countries. "Rangoon would prefer a further downstream site, Hutgyi, that is well inside Burmese territory, according to our information," he said. 

The financially hard hit MDX Group would need a formal Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) from EGAT in order to be eligible for loans from international finance institutions, said another Thai-based environmental group.