A petition demanding an immediate halt to six dam projects on the Thanlwin River will be sent to President U Thein Sein and the Chinese and Thai governments, the environmental non-government organisation, Karen Rivers Watch, said on March 17.
It said the petition, organised by the Burma Rivers Network and signed by 33,578 people throughout eastern Myanmar, would also be sent to the Yangon-based companies, Shwe Taung, IGE and Asia World.
The proposed dams are the Kwanlong, Naung Phar and Tar San in Shan State, the Ywa Thit in Kayah State and the Hut-kyi in Kayin State, said Karen Rivers Watch, which is based in the Thai border town of Mae Sot and is a member of the Burma Rivers Watch coalition.
A decision is expected this week on a date to send the petititon, Karen Rivers Watch said.
Burma Rivers Watch sent a report outlining the negative consequences of damming the Thanlwin, one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the world, to President U Thein Sein on March 14 to mark International Day of Action for Rivers.
Ko Saw Tha Poe, a coordinator with Karen Rivers Watch, said the disadvantages of damming the Thanlwin far outweighed the advantages.
“This is why we are campaigning to cancel all dam projects on the Thanlwin River,” he told Mizzima.
