18.02.2007
Salween Dams Global Day of Action
Thailand and China to Build Dams in Civil War Zones in Burma
Burma’s repressive military dictatorship, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the state-owned Energy Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and the Chinese state-owned enterprise Sinohydro Corporation are pushing ahead quickly and secretively with plans to build a series of large dams in civil war zones on the Salween River in Burma. The recently ousted Thai government strongly supported these plans and the current administration has done nothing to halt the projects, indicating that pressure is needed now to persuade them to end the unacceptable plans to build dams in an area from which peoples of a variety of ethnic minority groups are systematically being not only displaced, but also robbed, tortured, raped or executed.
Forced Labor, Forced Displacement, and No Compensation
Where the Salween runs through Burma and along the Thai-Burmese border, at least thirteen ethnic groups, including the Shan, Karen, Karenni, Mon, Wa, Pa-O, Lahu, Padaung, Akha, Lisu and Palaung, live in traditional communities along its banks. Under the current Burmese military regime, there will not be any form of public participation regarding the dams, and the communities who will be forced to bear all of the negative impacts from dam construction will not see any benefits. It has been well documented that infrastructure development in Burma involves the use of forced labor. In addition, the military forces villagers to relocate without providing compensation.
Environmental Damage
The environmental consequences of the proposed dam projects will be vast and irreversible. The Salween River, known as the Nu River in China and the Thanlwin River in Burma, remains the longest river in all of mainland Southeast Asia that flows freely, uninterrupted by massive dams. The Salween/Nu River basin has been designated as the Three Parallel Rivers UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yunnan, China for its extremely rich biodiversity, rare wildlife and internationally recognized wetlands. Over one hundred species of fish, migrate up the Nu/Salween River and its tributaries. There are many rare and endemic plants, animals, and fish species, and the teak forests lining the river are some of the most fertile in the world. In addition to flooding villages and agricultural fields, the planned Salween Dams would flood several protected areas, including the Salween Wildlife Sanctuary.
Dams Used as Weapons of War
In the context of the almost six decades of war against the ethnic peoples of Burma, the dams present a strategic, political and economic weapon of the military regime. Preparation for the dams has already caused suffering for many villagers in Burma, and if the dams are eventually built, further abuses against local communities and the river ecology will result. Furthermore, political and financial support for dams in this war zone amounts to direct complicity in the Burma Army’s oppression of the peoples of Burma.
Largest Dam in Southeast Asia
The Salween dams in Burma and on its borders would have a combined capacity of over 12,500 megawatts and would include the single largest dam in Southeast Asia. Two of the planned dams are inside Burma and two are on the Burma-Thai border. The 7,110 megawatt Tasang Dam, the largest of the series and also a part of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s Mekong Power Grid, will have a reservoir approximately 300 kilometers long and a concrete wall 228 meters high. Tasang dam pre-construction planning is at an advanced stage, with the detailed design already underway and most of the agreements already signed for financing its construction.
What Can You Do?
· Demonstrate in front of your local Thai/China Embassy/Consulate
· Contact your Thai/China embassy and share your concerns
· Sign the petition http://www.petitiononline.com/nodams/petition.html
· Encourage others to sign the petition and participate in the action
· Hold roundtable talks, meetings, and letter writing parties to take future action
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