Border to be opened for dam construction

Border to be opened for dam construction

Environment

Sources on the border and Chiangmai have confirmed that Border Post BP-1 checkpoint, closed since May last year, was to be reopened temporarily on 12 December for the transfer of construction materials at the Tasang dam site on the Salween. 

"The customs houses on both the Thai and Burmese sides are being repaired," said a trader from Nawng Ook village, in Chiangmai's Chiangdao district, facing Burma's Mongton township. "The anti tank dicth on Burma's side that was dug up during the Thailand'sSurasi war games has also been filled in by Sia Ord." 

Sia Ord, whose full Thai name is Somkid Oonman, is a sub-contractor working for the MDX Group that had already won a "agreement" on 20 December 2002 to build a 3,300 megawatt dam in Tasang, between Mongton on the east bank and Mongpan on the west bank in Shan State. 

A military source confirmed the reports saying, "The Burmese have also cleared minefields along the transport route. Some 200 land-mines were said to have been uncovered and defused. Of course, that's only a quarter of the total number of mines suspected to be there." 

The reopening of the checkpoint was reportedly ordered by Chaingmai governor Suwat Tantipat. 

The Shan State Army of Col Yawdserk is not happy about the latest development, according to an insider source, though it has so far maintained a beat-about-the-bush policy that the decision rests with the people of Shan State. Its 727th Brigade, commanded by Maj Ternkhurh, who was "shouldered" out of his Doikham stronghold by the Thai Army in October, is said to be "very active" in the area. 

"The MDX has been trying to contact him," said the SSA source. "But he has yet to respond to any of their requests to cooperate with the dam project."