Ethnic armed groups condemn dam projects on the Salween

_{By Mu Byan Binn}
 
When asked about the Shan State Army (SSA) South’s view on the dam projects which the Junta is implementing in cooperation with companies from Thailand as well as from China, through an interpreter, Col Yawd Serk, Chairman of the group’s political wing Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) said, “We are opposed to any project that will destroy the environment and livelihood of people in Shan State". 
 
KNPP General Secretary, Khu Rimond Htoo said, “If the construction goes ahead, Karenni will be the most hard hit region because most people reside along the river plain. After they built (in 1960s) Lawpita hydro electric power plants in Karenni State (Kayah State), Karenni people do not even get electricity in their houses.  From the past experience, we can say that the proposed dams won’t benefit civilians and therefore, I don’t wish it to go ahead”. 

A report, “Dammed by Burma’s Generals” by the Karenni Development Research Group (KDRG) wrote, Lawpita hydropower resulted on water shortage, destructive floods that destroy crops, disrupted fish habitats, thousands of Burma soldiers come and occupied the area causing human rights abuses such as forced labor, displacements of people and laying of landmines on farm fields, sexual violence and extrajudicial killings.
 
Environmental organizations based in Thailand said the projects will affect many Karen, Karenni, Shan and Mon States because the river flows through these first 3 states and then empties into the Gulf of Martaban in Mon State. 
 
Currently, Burma Rivers’ Network (BRN) which made up with many other ethnic environmental groups such as Karen, Karenni, Mon and Shan are lobbying in international, regional and local level said Aung Ngyeh, a secretarial of BRN.
 
“Most villagers thought that the dams were going to be small ones, like ponds.  They have no idea how these could affect their livelihoods.  So we went to them and explained what could happen.  We also did our research at the same time.  We approached Thai government and requested not to let the projects go ahead.  Since Thailand is a democratic nation, we brought up human rights issues and explained that when Burma sell the power to them, it will only benefit people on top, not ordinary people and those money can last military power longer. As for China, even though, it is not a democratic nation, they respect people’s livelihoods and customs.  And in China, before planning a project, they initially have environmental and social assessment and carry out the plan after that. They have strict regulations in China, so some companies come to Burma where there is no assessment and regulation.  Therefore, we ask Chinese government to have regulation on company investment in Burma to save China’s image in the international level, Aung Ngyeh explain the current activities.
  
Salween Watch Coordinator Sai Sai said, “There is no participation from local people in these projects.  The number of Burma soldiers had increased in the area citing security against rebel groups and causes relocation of people as well as human rights abuses.  In addition, the projects will only fatten the military’s pockets.  So we request Thai government to stop the projects until there is participation from the locals”.  He also added, Salween projects can have impact on “about 73,000 people’s lives in Burma and 10,000 in Thailand”. 
 
News reports from various media outlets reported the Ta Sang dam in Shan State and Hat Kyi dam in Karen State are being implemented since last year and early this year and expected to be finished by 2021-22 and 2013-14 respectively. 
 
The Salween is so far the longest free-flowing river in Southeast Asia despite having many efforts to construct dams in its basin.  However, the agreement of 5 proposed dams’ projects was reached between Thailand and Burma on 9th December 2005. The five proposed dams are Ta Sang in Shan State, Wei Gyi, Dagwin, Hatgyi in Karen State and one on the Tenasserim River.  Except for the Tenasserim River, the other four dam sites are on the Salween River.