Activists say clashes may be linked to Salween dam with Chinese investments

Activists say clashes may be linked to Salween dam with Chinese investments
by -
Hseng Khio Fah
Heavy clashes between August 27 to 29, between the Burmese Army and Kokang rebels could be linked to China’s proposal of building the Upper Salween Dam, also known as the Kunlong Dam in northern Shan State ...

Heavy clashes between August 27 to 29, between the Burmese Army and Kokang rebels could be linked to China’s proposal of building the Upper Salween Dam, also known as the Kunlong Dam in northern Shan State, near Kokang territory, according to Sai Khur Hseng, spokesperson of the Shan Sapawa Environmental Organization.

Today, the Shan Sapawa together with the Salween Watch coalition of environmental groups released a statement urging China to immediately halt all its investments in the dam.

The recent clashes, which killed about 200 people and led to over 30,000 civilians fleeing to China, occurred just east of the town of Kunlong, about 15 km from the planned dam site, said the statement.

“The renewed conflict and refugee influx into Yunnan should be a wake-up call for Chinaabout the risks of investing in Burma,” said Sai Khur Hseng.

The statement said a team of Chinese and Burmese technicians have been conducting feasibility studies for the proposed dam, 25 km from the Chinese border. The hydro power plant is estimated to produce 2,400 MW of electricity. The studies followed after the plans to construct the dam were announced in April 2007, by two Chinese companies, Hanergy Holding Group (formerly Farsighted Investment Group) and Gold Water Resources Company.

“Trees were being felled for the construction site,” Sai Khur Hseng said.

The Kunlong dam is one of the five mega dams proposed on the Salween in Burma, by the ruling military junta, the Chinese and Thai companies. The electricity produced is to be sold to China and Thailand. The other mega dam being planned in Shan State is the giant 7,110 MW Tasang dam, 100 km from the Thai border.

In early August, more than 10,000 villagers from townships near the Tasang dam site were forcibly relocated and over 500 houses were burnt down by the junta’s recent scorched earth campaign.

Similarly, if China still plans to continue with the project, many people would be forced to relocate and die as both the investors and the military junta will clear everything that comes in the way of their plans, Sai Khur Hseng said.

“China would halt its investments in the dam if it had not been working hand in glove with the junta during the offensive against Kokang,” he added.

The clashes between the Burmese Army and Kokang followed after the former sent troops, ostensibly to investigate reports of Kokang forces operating an arms factory on August 8.

Tension between the ceasefire groups and the ruling military junta has been escalating since April, when the former were asked to transform into Burmese Army run Border Guard Forces.