No.03 - 04/2006
10 April 2006

Environment

Butcher of Kengtung palace visits Tasang

One of Burma's top generals flew over to visit one of the 4-controversial Salween dam sites at Tasang in Shan State last week amid reports that Burma has signed an agreement with a Thai firm to build a 7,110 megawatt hydropower plant there, according to Thai and Shan sources.


Lt-Gen Kyaw Win who commands three military regions in Shan State: Northeastern, Eastern and Triangle, arrived by helicopter at Tasang, about 90 miles north of the Chiangmai border, on 4 April, a day after Thailand's MDX Group signed a $6 billion agreement in Rangoon. The project is expected to be completed within 15 years, according to the New Light of Myanmar.

Kyaw Win later turned up at Nakawngmu, 29 miles from the border, to meet with security officials there. "All the machinery and construction material will be coming through Nakawngmu," said a Thai border watcher.

Sources however were unable to offer further details.

Kyaw Win who had served as the commander of the Burma Army forces in eastern Shan State during the years 1991-93 reportedly ordered the demolition of the palace of Kengtung in November 1991.