30.07.2006
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Join Democracy for Burma Alliance
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Salween
River
(Interview with Karen Rivers Watch)
BURMA DIGEST: Who are
currently participating in Karen Rivers Watch?
KRW: KRW (Karen Rivers Watch) is a
coalition of Karen organizations-the Karen Office of Relief and
Development (KORD), Karen Youth Organization (KYO), Karen Student Network
Group (KSNG), Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN), Karen
Women Organizatio (KWO), and Federal Trade Union of Kawthoolei (FTUK)-
which work on environmental, women's , youth, human rights and development
issues within the Karen community in Karen State. It was formed to monitor
development processes affecting the environment, especially rivers, in
Karen State in particular and Burma in general, and to mobilizing
grassroots communities, as well advocate, with other Burma compatriots,
for democratic and sustainable development in Burma.
(Karen villagers who will lose their livelihoods because of the dams)
BURMA DIGEST: When Karen Rivers Watch
was first launched?
KRW: The Karen Rivers Watch the first
was launched or established on June 28th, 2003 with the collaborations of
6 Karen social organizations which are active in the areas for their
respective issues – women, children, community development, health and
youth. As well, to educate the local community and international community
of any development projects to be done on the rivers home to the Karen and
in the Karen State. The KRW focuses on the effects of mega projects on
rivers in the Karen State in the field of social, political, economics,
environmental and cultural.
BURMA DIGEST: Where is it based?
KRW: The KRW is mainly based in the
inside Karen State.
BURMA DIGEST: What are your aims and
objects? And how will you carry them out?
KRW:
Aim: Karen people are well aware of any development project,
which will effect their lives and are determined to find ways to take part
in any decision that will effect their way of life.
Objective: _
- To safeguard and protect the environment of rivers;
- To highlight the advantages and disadvantages of any projects on the
rivers in Karen area; and
- To actively involve in the protection and conservation of:
i. The environment;
ii. Human rights and
iii. The right to self-determination.
Regarding the aim and objectives of the KRW will carry out through the
coalition members of the KRW.
BURMA DIGEST: Do you have connections
and cooperations with other ethnic groups, e.g. Kuki groups who are
protesting Thamenthee Dam in their region?
KRW: Yes, we do have strong connection
and cooperation with other ethnic groups as Shan, Karenni, Mon because we
rely on the River from generation by generation. As well, the mega
projects on the Salween river will be impacted Shan, Karenni, Mon and
Karen States entirely.
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| potential Dam sites | |
BURMA DIGEST: Please kindly explain
the basic facts about Salween Dams.
KRW:
Recent Dam Plan: _
There are 5 potential dam sites on the Salween that have been mentioned
within the past 10 years, from closest to the Chinese border to where the
river meets the sea, namely Tasang, Wei Gyi, Dagwin, Mong Hta-Homong and
Hat Gyi. Out of these the first three sites are the ones most likely to be
implemented. In the following text we try to give a summary of information
available about those 5 sites:_
1. TASANG: The most recent of the dam plans concerns an area in the
south central Shan State apparently some 40 km north of the Tasang river
crossing. A study of the stretch of river lasting 3 weeks was completed in
November by a group apparently including Thai company personnel, Burmese
and Thai officials and 3 Japanese. According to MDX Plc, a Thai
construction outfit, the Tasang dam, which would be the first dam to be
built on the Salween river, would be the highest in Southeast Asia.
It is possible that the survey is part of the study called for by the
Asian Development Bank in 1994. Until the recent activities, since 1994 no
known field study of the river has been done.
It is not immediately obvious why the Latestt site to be studied is
considered to be of interest unless it's altitude and its proximity to the
Nam Kok River in the Shan State are the deciding factors. The Nam Kok, as
mentioned in the previous paper is to be part of the Kok - Ing - Nan Water
Diversion Project, aimed at filling the Sirikit Dam. The relatively high
altitude may help reduce the height the Salween's water may have to be
raised artificially for diversion. This could mean that although very
high, the dam would not be quite high as it would be if made lower down on
the river valley. However, the location is far from the border and there
is still no obvious way to bring water from such a site to Thailand other
than by pumping it up and through a large mountain. Pumping would make
water diversion more expensive and difficult. The Tasang site is also very
far from the industrial centres that could use the electricity. It is also
an area of active and persistent conflict.
Dam height: 188 meters
Installation capacity: 3,300 megawatts (EGAT), 3,600 megawatts (Japanese
Electric Power Development Corporation)
Minimum flood area: 100 sqkm (South East Asia River Network)
2. WEI GYI: (Upper Salween Dam): The site at Wei Gyi
on the Thai Burma border section of the Salween. According to the Japanese
Electric Power Development Corporation study the dam would be 4,540
megawatts. It is far from watersheds that flow into the Chaophraya River.
Because it is separated by 2 mountain ranges and a wide valley the
diversion of water into the other watershed is simply not practical. It
would require 300 kilometres of high voltage transmission line to be put
in place, but is not so far from Rangoon or Chiang Mai. It could flood 700
square kilometres - possibly even up to 1000 km2 of forest, riverine and
farm land. This dam cost was estimated at US$3 billion. Another earlier
estimate which is thought to be for the same area priced the dam at
US$5.85 billion. The Norwegian dam building consultancy company Norconsult,
in their Greater Mekong Subregional Development Programme study for the
Asian Development Bank estimated that it would be possible to build a dam
on the same site to produce 7,800 megawatts of electricity. It would
presumably cost far more than US$3 billion to make.
Dam height: 168 meters
Installation capacity: 4, 540 megawatts
Water level: 220 (m. MSL)
Reservoir length of upper dam: 380 km
Flood area on Thai side according to EGAT estimations: 19,101 rai /31.9
sqkm
3. DAGWIN: (Lower Salween Dam): The smaller lower
Salween dam at Dagwin, a short distance down from the Weigyi dam on the
same stretch of the Thai-Burma border. According to the EPDC study the dam
would complement the Weigyi dam as a pumped storage facility. It could
produce up to 792 megawatts of electricity but would basically serve to
trap the water released by the Weigyi dam and would use off-peak power to
pump water back up into the Weigyi dam to produce more reliable peak time
power. It's flood area would not be so large, but its estimated US$900
million cost is high for the amount of usable power it would produce. Also
no water diversion would be practical.
Dam height: 49 meters
Installation capacity: 792 megawatts
Water level: 86 meters (m. MSL)
Distance to upper dam: 35 km
Flood area on Thai side according to EGAT estimations: 1,340 rai / 2.3
sqkm
4. MONG HTA - HOMONG: North west of Mong Hta and Mong Kyawt, and north east of Homong in the Shan State, at a place where water would be backed up to near Piang Luang and sent through tunnels into the Mae Taeng stream and thence into the Ping and Chaophraya River. The site of the 6,000 megawatt dam would be completely in Burma. It would be at least 200 meters high to raise the water level as high as possible. Diverted water would have to be pumped up at very high cost. The site is also far from industrial areas and existing power transmission lines. The flood area would stretch far up into the Shan State cutting it in two. No figures are available as to the cost. Two options were initially considered but one, that of pumping the water up to a shorter tunnel through the mountains, would have required over 1,200 megawatts of electricity, nearly twice the peak capacity of the Bhumiphol Dam.
5. HAT GYI: Near to Myaingyingu, at a place called Hat Gyi (also called Hutgyi). This is where there is a particularly powerful rapid that becomes a waterfall when the water flow is reduced in the dry season. It is beside and part of the Kahilu Wildlife Sanctuary. The Burmese Generals favour this site although Thai officials have not favoured this site at all. It is completely in Burma, and is the closest to Rangoon and Mandalay. A very significant amount of Karen and Thai soil would be flooded by this dam if built, unless it was made very low. Because of its low elevation the cost of pumping water into the Chaophraya would be very high. However its flood waters could be pumped up to one of the 2 planned diversion dams at Nam Ngao and thence into the Teun River and the Bhumipol Dam. (Note: If the Hat Gyi site is "developed" the diversion dam at Mae Lama Luang / Mae Ramu Klo may be unnecessary as the area would be flooded by the Hat Gyi Dam. According to EGAT documents the Hat Gyi site is intended to produce only 400 megawatts of electricity
BURMA DIGEST: How can they affect
environment?
KRW: It is certain that construction
of the dams will affect the ecosystem of the Salween watershed, one of the
most fertile and ecologically unique areas of the world. The area is
regarded as an ecological transition zone between the Indo-Chinese
Sub-region and the Sino-Himalaya or Indian Sub-region. The flooding will
be threatening the habitats of at least 235 wild animal species. The
construction of the dams will also affect the numerous fish species found
in the Salween River and among these at least 35 species are of economics
importance. As well, the local community livelihoods as such beans,
watermelon, cucumber, tobacco, chilly and paddy fields on the river bank.
(Karen villagers praying for safety of their livelihood)
BURMA DIGEST: How can they affect
human rights in the region?
KRW: Wherever the development projects
being implemented by the military regime, there are lots of human rights
violations and abusive are committed by the regime troops in the region.
People were shot, houses, paddy barns were burnt, and possession of the
people were destroyed or taken away... When ever houses were burnt people
lost all possession in their house. People are suffering from Burma army
for over 30 years; they lost their houses, paddy, and commodity goods
including cooking pots, cloths again and again.
BURMA DIGEST: On your website you said
"All the projects implemented under the regime are used as a tool to
control the areas in the name of development", please kindly explain it in
detail.
KRW: Absolutely you are right, all the
projects implemented under the regime are used a a tool to control the
areas in the name of development we, KRW were not denied about this.
Regarding number ten question the KRW's already high light and analysis
the regime are using the name of development as a tool to control northern
Karen State. Currently, the military regime are increasing the operation
in northern Karen State.
For example, Beginning
from second week of March Burma army Sa KaKa (military command central)
10, LIB 351,364,366,367 and 590 entered into Mone township and started
military operation. Later in third week of March the Burma army Sa Ka
Ka16, entered into Ler Doh ( Kyaukkyi ) and Hsaw Hti (Shwekyin ) township
and extend military operation in all three township In Kler Lwee Htoo (
Nyaunglebin )district. During the military operation the Burma entered and
practice search and destroy operation.
Over 23 killed and 14,000
Karen civilians displaced in Toungoo and Nyaung Lay Bin districts by
recent SPDC military offensives. As well, Burma army garrisons in Papun
district are increasing particular the dam site areas.
Previously, travel along
the river was quite open and easy. But after the Bomb Blast, strict
security measures were taken by the SPDC. A checkpoint was put up under a
Banyan Tree near Meh Seik village and checks were made of every boat that
travels up and down. If the boasts did not stop for checking there was the
order to shoot.
For the Hat Gyi (Taung
Kyaw) Dam construction the SPDC had placed (4) security sites _
The overall officer in charge being Column Commander Kyaw Ko Htet of the
No (81) LIB No (22) division.
1. Meh Seik village –one company commanded by intelligence officer Naing
Aung and (A) company commander Kyaw Thu Ya.
2. Company commander Kyaw Zay Ya with one company at Mae La Pa Tha
village.
3. No. (22) Division LIB (202) Column Commander Thet Tun with one company
at Taung Kyar-Mae La Pa Tha.
4. Intelligence officer Yeh Min Tun and Company (A) commander Han Win
Naung with one group at Mae La Pa Tha.
BURMA DIGEST: Can electricity produced
by Salween Dams help Karen people in the region?
KRW: I don't think so, the electricity
produced by the military regimes from the Salween Dams. Instated, Karen
people in the region will pay for the fee of porters, labour and massage
relocation. For example, the Lawpita hydropower flooded out approximately
8,000 people and created reservoir 207 square kilometres in size.
Electricity, even for those villages lying just under the transmission
lines, was remains inaccessible. The villagers around those areas still
facing the water and electricity shortages. That's why the KRW strongly
believe the mega projects on the Salween River will not help Karen people
in the region.
BURMA DIGEST: How can international
community help in this Salween Dams issue?
KRW: On behalf of Karen people the KRW
would like to urge the international community needed to be maintaining
the economics sanction, dam campaign and advocacy. It is urgently needed
for the international community, particularly ASEAN countries and China,
to reevaluate their support for development programs currently being
implemented by the regime in Burma. Without political reform and
restoration of the basic rights of citizens, such programs will be
exploited by the military rulers and will inflict further suffering on the
people of Burma.
BURMA DIGEST: Thank you very much
indeed for the interview.
Your Comments here_
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