Protest against dam projects in Burma

Protest against dam projects in Burma

_{December 3, 2007}

_{By Kwarn Lake}

The environmental activists from organizations and individuals today staged a protest against dam projects in Burma in front of the Chinese consulate in Chiang Mai, urging the Chinese government to regulate dam projects in Burma.

 
More than twenty people from environmental groups including the Burma Rivers Network and Salween Watch Coalition and women organizations joined the demonstration.

“We just want and hope for the Chinese government to have well-considering to abide the law and regulations of dams as they do in their own country,” said one of the protestors, Sai Sai who is the coordinator of Salween Watch Coalition.

At least 10 Chinese companies have in the past five years increased their investment on about 20 major hydropower projects in Burma, with capacity installation of around 30,000 megawatts that will cost over US$30 billion, mentioned in the statement released by Burma Rivers Network and Salween Watch Coalition today.

_{Protestors  holding placards in front of Chinese Consulate in Chiang Mai}

According to the media release, the dam projects are being conducted with a complete lack of transparency, no environmental or social impact studies, and no notification of intent to local communities.

"These Chinese dams will cause huge environmental and social damage for the peoples in Burma, and will damage China's international image," said Aung Ngyeh of the Burma Rivers Network.

Many of the projects are located in conflict areas where ethnic peoples have suffered for decades from systematic abuses by the troops of Burma's military regime, according to the statement.

“Dams as we know it has nothing to benefit Burmese people but will create a series of human rights violation, environmental problems and will impact on the lively hood of the people who are living along the rivers,” said Sai Sai.

The Burma Rivers Network is a non-governmental organization comprised of representatives of ethnic organizations from potential dam-affected communities in Burma. Salween Watch Coalition is an alliance of different organizations and NGOs based in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.

_{Protestors holding placards in front of Chinese Consulate in Chiang Mai}

To urge the Chinese government to regulate the activities of Chinese dam-builders in Burma, more than 50,000 individuals, 98 Burmese social and political groups and 24 international organizations have also signed a petition and sent to the President Hu Jintao today, according to the press release.