When asked about the Shan State Army (SSA) South's view on the dam projects which the junta is implementing in cooperation with companies from Thailand as well as from China, through an interpreter, Col Yawd Serk, Chairman of the group's political wing Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) said, "We are opposed to any project that will destroy the environment and livelihood of people in Shan State".
KNPP General Secretary, Khu Rimond Htoo said, "If the construction goes ahead, Karenni will be the most hard hit region because most people reside along the river plain. After they built (in 1960s) the Lawpita hydro electric power plants in Karenni State (Kayah State), Karenni people do not even get electricity in their houses. From past experience, we can say that the proposed dams won't benefit civilians and therefore, I don't wish it to go ahead".
A report, "Dammed by Burma's Generals" by the Karenni Development Research Group (KDRG) said Lawpita hydropower resulted in water shortage, destructive floods that destroyed crops, disrupted fish habitats. Thousands of Burma soldiers came and occupied the area causing human rights abuses such as forced labour, displacements of people and laying of landmines on farm fields, sexual violence and extrajudicial killings.
Environmental organizations based in Thailand said the projects will affect many Karen, Karenni, Shan and Mon States because the river flows through these first three states and then empties into the Gulf of Martaban in Mon State.
Currently, Burma Rivers' Network (BRN), which is made up of many other ethnic environmental groups such as Karen, Karenni, Mon and Shan, are lobbying in international, regional and local levels, said Aung Ngyeh, a secretarial of BRN.
"Most villagers thought that the dams were going to be small ones, like ponds. They have no idea how these could affect their livelihoods. So we went to them and explained what could happen. We also did our research at the same time. We approached the Thai government and requested not to let the projects go ahead. Since Thailand is a democratic nation, we brought up human rights issues and explained that when Burma sells the power to them, it will only benefit people on top, not ordinary people and the money will allow the military to remain in power longer. As for China, even though, it is not a democratic nation, they respect people's livelihoods and customs. And in China, before planning a project, they initially have environmental and social assessment and carry out the plan after that. They have strict regulations in China, so some companies come to Burma where there is no assessment and regulation. Therefore, we asked the Chinese government to have regulations on company investment in Burma to save China's image at the international level," Aung Ngyeh said explaining the current activities.
Salween Watch Coordinator Sai Sai said, "there is no participation from local people in these projects. The number of Burma soldiers had increased in the area citing security against rebel groups and caused relocation of people as well as human rights abuses. In addition, the projects will only fatten the military's pockets. So we requested Thai government to stop the projects until there is participation from the locals".
He also added, Salween projects can have an impact on about 73,000 people's lives in Burma and 10,000 in Thailand.
News reports from various media outlets said the Ta Sang dam in Shan State and Hat Kyi dam in Karen State are being implemented since last year and early this year. It is expected to be finished by 2021-22 and 2013-14 respectively.
The Salween is so far the longest free-flowing river in Southeast Asia despite many efforts to construct dams in its basin. However, the agreement on five proposed dam projects was reached between Thailand and Burma on December 9, 2005. The five proposed dams are Ta Sang in Shan State, Wei Gyi, Dagwin, Hatgyi in Karen State and one on the Tenasserim River. Except for the Tenasserim River, the other four dam sites are on the Salween River.
