Karen IDPs protest dam projects on Salween River

E-tu Hta Karen refugee camp

(Mizzima) - Hundreds of men, women and children thronged the sand bank of Salween river in the boat-stop area of E-tu Hta temporary Karen Refugee Camp. They came together on March 14 to observe the International Day of Action for Rivers and to protest against dam projects on the Salween.

People listened to speakers providing information, support and encouragement before floating a raft with a poster saying "No Dam" down the Salween. The villagers are Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) from Ho Kay, Por Ka Der and E-tu Hta refugee camp.

E-tu Hta temporary refugee camp lies on the banks of the Salween river, the border between Karen state in Burma and Mae Hong Son Province in Thailand. The year marks the sixth consecutive anti-dam event focused on the Salween River, coordinated by Karen Rivers Watch, a coalition of Karen social groups along with villagers. They have been organizing events annually since 2004.

“This annual event of anti-dam day aims to keep the spirit of awareness of dams on the Salween River up-to-date and show the solidarity that our Karen people have towards broader anti-dam movement (or global movement) organized by other people affected by dams. We are against mega dams; full stop”, said Saw Johnny Lay, the spokesperson for KRW and the primary event organiser.

There are three dams proposed for the Salween River - the Wei Gyi, Dagwei and Hat Gyi in a conflict zone.

Villagers are concerned that these dams will repeat the mistakes of previous dam construction projects; people being forcibly removed from their livelihood and homes; Karen people being the target of vicious assaults and random killings; destruction of the ecological balance of the area; and people’s traditional way of life. Many of them shared their bitter experience of the Law Pi Ta dam construction in Karenni State and ongoing issues.
One day before the event, there was a women's forum with local villagers and a children's forum with basic education for students in the area organized to educate the villagers, with more than a hundred women and children participating in one day workshops. These activities included an update on the dam situation and encouraged participation in environmental protection.

Saw Lawplah, one of the organisers said, "We need a people-to-people advocating strategy--to expand our idea, and to make sure that environmental idea is in all our Karen hearts. Karen for Karen people."

This message of "No Dam" by the protesters loudly proclaims to all those people living along the Salween that there is a concerted effort to protect the Salween from dams. 

Source: http://www.mizzima.com/news/regional/3673-karen-idps-protest-dam-projects-on-salween-river.html

Push to build big dams undermines peace process in Karen State

The push by investors to proceed with large dams in Karen State areas of Burma is threatening to undermine ongoing cease-fire negotiations between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burmese government, says Karen Rivers Watch.

The Paunglaung Dam project under construction about 50 km from Naypyitaw, the capital of Burma. Photo: KNGY

The increased presence of Burmese troops around dam sites and “blatant disregard for concerns of impacted communities are heightening tensions, and throwing into doubt the government’s sincerity in conducting cease-fire talks,” according to a statement issued on Wednesday. Karen Rivers Watch is a coalition of community-based organizations working to promote sustainable river development.

Two months after an initial cease-fire agreement between the KNU and the government, military tensions have risen around the planned Hatgyi Dam site on the Salween River in Karen State, located 48 kilometres from the Thai border. Unusually large amounts of supplies sent in to Burmese army camps securing the dam site, and the planned deployment of a new battalion in the area, prompted the local KNU commander to reinforce troops around the Burmese bases since last month, the statement said.

Since 2009, the KNU has called for a halt to the dam project until there is a viable peace in Burma, but under pressure from China’s Sinohydro Corporation and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the KNU agreed in December 2011 to allow further surveys for the dam.

However, they did not give approval for increased Burmese troops, the statement said. Cease-fire talks have so far failed to establish agreements regarding troop movements on both sides.

“At this fragile stage of the cease-fire process, pushing ahead with the Hatgyi Dam will reignite conflict and derail the talks,” said Saw Paul of Karen Rivers Watch. “Investors are sabotaging the hopes of Karen people for lasting peace.”

Growing local resentment against dam-builders is putting increased pressure on KNU to take protective action, irrespective of ongoing cease-fire talks, the statement said.

In February 2012, KNU troops arrested and fined workers of the Chinese-backed “Myanmar Nature Energy Wave,” demanding they stop building the Dah Thway Kyauk Dam, which will flood five Karen villages near Dawei in southern Burma.

Similar resentment is building against the Italian Thai Development Plc (ITD) for pushing ahead with the Taninthayi (Tenasserim) Dam, which will export power to Thailand, and the Ka Loat Hta Dam, which will store water for the Dawei Special Economic Zone.

Local KNU units sought to block ITD’s operations in 2011, but have since been pressured to allow them to continue survey work.

“The Burmese government should show its sincerity by halting all mega-development projects in ethnic areas until there is genuine peace and political reform which guarantees the rights of impacted communities,” Saw Paul said.

Source: http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/6758-push-to-build-big-dams-undermines-peace-process-in-karen-state.html