Environmental activists concerned that the controversial Myitsone dam project was never in fact halted say that a recently leaked document proves that construction is indeed moving ahead as previously planned.
The leaked document is a March 28 letter written by Chinese government officials to their Kachin state counterparts requesting that “500 road construction engineers” be given permission to enter Burma because “China Power Investment (CPI) is planning to restart the Myitsone Hydro-power Project”.
The letter addressed to Kachin state chief Minister Lajawn Ngan Seng, also asked that CPI be given permission to bring “1,000 tons of diesel, 200 tons of petrol, 10,000 tons of cement, 5 bulldozers, 6 excavators, 8 trucks, and 20 cars, as well as other necessary materials and goods (for rations) to enter” Burma at the Kambaiti (also spelt Kan Pai Ti) gate without having to pay import duty.
The letter written by the chief in charge of the Tengchong-Myitkyina Road Liaison Office is according to the Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG) solid proof refuting President Thein Sein's September 30, 2011 announcement that project was suspended.
“CPI never stopped this project and now they want to bring in even more workers and materials” said KDNG spokesperson Ah Nan in a statement sent by the group on Tuesday.
“If the Myitsone dam was really suspended, the government would not allow any new workers to come in and all those remaining would be sent back to China”, Ah Nan added.
A recent article by the Chinese language edition of Bloomberg BussinessWeek says that 200 Chinese workers remain at the dam site months after Thein Sein's official statement that the project would be suspended.
