Given the spectre of ecological disaster hanging over Kachin State, ethnic Kachins in Burma organized ceremonies on International Rivers Day today in different towns in Kachin State and Rangoon, former capital of the country, said local organizers.

The ceremonies were held in Myitkyina, Waingmaw, Bhamo (Manmaw), Manje (Mansi), Shwego and Laiza on the Sino-Burma border in Kachin State and Rangoon in keeping with traditional Christian prayer services, said local environmentalists and organizers.

The ceremonies were organized by the Sino-Burma border based Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG). Two main prayer services were held, said Mr. Awng Wa, environmental activist and chairman of the KDNG on the Sino-Burma border.

The two main prayer services were---- all rivers in the world to be sustained in its original form of beauty and purity for ever, and stopping the Irrawaddy River hydropower project at the confluence of the Mali and N’Mai Rivers, also known as Myitsone in Kachin State which is being jointly constructed by Burma’s ruling junta and China.

The ceremonies were not held publicly in churches or public places in the towns but in houses. The participants included local young people, environmentalists, church pastors and teachers.

This morning a special prayer service marking the International Rivers Day on the China side of Laiza on the border was held between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Burma Standard Time.  About 20 people attended the service, said Mr. Awng Wa.

In Kachin State, populated cities like Myitkyina, Waingmaw, Bhamo, Mogaung, Danai (Tanai), Sumprabum and Putao as well as small villages in different areas of the state are located near rivers.

According to the KDNG chairman Awng Wa, people in Kachin State are using water from nearby rivers as sources of drinking water, for paddy and crop plantation, fish and shrimp breeding farms, transportation, bathing and swimming spots.

On the International Rivers Day, on behalf of the KDNG, chairman Awng Wa sent a verbal message to China and Burma’s ruling junta, “We deeply urge the Chinese and Burmese government to stop the Myitsone hydropower project. If not, we will organize all possible means to stop the project.”

He also urged all the people in Kachin State to oppose the Myitsone hydropower project in Irrawaddy River unitedly, until it is stopped.