Thursday, March 17, 2011

International Day of Action against Dams in Tha Ta Fang, Mae Sariang and Kho Kay, Wei Gyi Dam Site (Karen State)

Since March 2, 2011, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand facilitated public hearing and consultation with people who will be affected by the Hutgyi Dam Project. There are no conclusions of the discussion so far and had to wait for a judgment from the Subcommittee to Study and Compile Opinions Concerning the Impacts and Human Rights Abuse in the Construction of Hutgyi Dam.



Another month passed, the same issue is brought into attention again in occasion of the International Day of Action against Dams. “No Dams” is still the main stand point which unites people together. On the boundary of Thailand-Burma where build and bound relationships of people, over 200 people from Tha Ta Fang, Mae Sariang (Thailand-Burma Border) and more locals who live in the Salween region celebrated in occasion of International Day of Action against Dams. Meanwhile, more than 300 people were gathered at Kho Kay, Wei Gyi Dam Site (Karen State) to show collective power against dams together with local CBOs from Thailand and  7 Karen Organizations.

Mr Thongchai, KESAN staff, explained about the Karen longevity ritual for the Salween which signify to people respect and sharing their concerns on current situation. "Livelihood of local people is priceless compare with compensation" as he mentioned in Prachatai, online news agency in Thai.

See more on:
(1) http://www.prachatai.com/journal/2011/03/33553
(2) http://www.prachatai.com/journal/2011/03/33590
(3) http://www.prachatham.com/detail.htm?code=n2_16032010_01






On the 8th anniversary of people action against dams in this region since China has proposed 13 dams on the Salween and 5 more plans proposed to build in several ethnic states: Shan State, Karenni State, Thai-Burma Border, and Karen state: the total 18 dams will totally stop the Salween River flow. At the events, same message was addressed to revoke all dam construction along the Salween River and its tributaries.

Source: Shan Youth Power on YouTube 

The Burma Rivers Network called on foreign investors to immediately stop plans to build large dams on Burma's major rivers and their tributaries, as these dams will have huge social and environmental impacts across the country, and fuel Burma’s decades-long civil war.[1]
“Areas around the planned dam sites, particularly along the Salween, are heavily militarized by the junta’s troops, who have forcibly relocated hundreds of thousands of local civilians, and commit ongoing systematic human rights abuses, including torture, killing and rape,” said a statement released by BRN on March 14, 2011. See more related interview at http://www.dvb.no/news/dam-investors-fuelling-violence/14753




[1] Statement of the Burma Rivers Network on the International Day of Action for Rivers, “Stop Damming Burma’s Rivers”, http://www.burmariversnetwork.org/
http://www.salweenwatch.org/

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