NLD and its leader indecisive over Myanmar's Myitsone Project

NLD and its leader indecisive over Myanmar's Myitsone Project

Published on Friday, 03 January 2014 18:29

 

The National League for Democracy (NLD) and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi are indecisive about Myitsone Dam Project, according to sources.

The Upstream Ayeyawady Confluence Basin Hydropower Co Ltd (ACHC), which has a large stake in the project to be implemented by China Power Investment (CPI), has said the halted project will be renegotiated with the new government that takes power following the 2015 general election and will resume at that time.

Radio Free Asia aired a special program, "Harsh democracy journey and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi" on Wednesday, in which Suu Kyi addressed the Chinese company's comments at a press conference about the project held on December 26.

In the program, RFA's Khin Maung Soe asked Suu Kyi, "Will the NLD do that [renegotiate the project] if the party wins the election in 2015, as the Chinese company suggested?"

Suu Kyi replied that there is no other means to address the project than negotiation, but she gave no clear message about whether or not the project would continue if her party wins the election.

"It must be negotiated. What can be done without negotiation? The current government still hasn't ended the project completely. It's as if it dares not take responsibility for the work. A government should take responsibility. And most of the cabinet members under this government are from the former junta, which agreed to the project," said Suu Kyi. "They agreed for the project to happen under the former government. They should not pretend that they had nothing to do with it. But as the project has only been suspended for five years, it's as if the coming government will have to take care of that. I don't like this. Every government should dare to take responsibility and has the ability to do so."

The NLD leader added that the current government must deal with the Myitsone project decisively.

"It must be dealt with decisively. They should decide what to do or what should be done about it by means of negotiation. But this is now indecisive. What does a five-year suspension mean? It's as if they are saying the next government can deal with it," she said.

President Thein Sein sent a special message to the parliament on September 30, 2011 to halt the project, promising that his administration would "suspend the project during its term." He said he made the decision in order to ease public anxiety about the project. The president's spokesperson, Ye Htut, said the president would not change his decision on the project regardless of the ACHC's public comments about its resumption.

Ye Htut also said the government could face legal action if the Chinese company decides to cite international law and argue that the project agreement has been violated.

NLD members, including the party leader used to criticize the former junta about Myitsone, but the party has yet to announce a clear or decisive policy position about the project and whether it should continue or not if the NLD wins the 2015 election.

When Eleven Media asked Suu Kyi for her exact position on the project after a formal meeting of the parliamentary committee for rule of law and stability on December 2, she did not give a precise answer.

"Firstly, I need to look at the Myitsone dam's contract and what facts will be involved there. And then I will reply the answer. I don't know what facts are involved in the contract. Likewise, the people don't know about the contract. I think the government should inform the public. There must be transparency. What pledges did they [the government] make?" said Suu Kyi.

"In the end, the burden of theses pledges will be on the shoulders of our country and the people. For me, I don't know what facts they agreed to with the company. Whatever it is, those who signed the contract must have borne the responsibility. They shouldn't ignore this. And that is why I have not made comments without knowing all the detailed facts of the contract. But those who signed the agreement must have the spirit of responsibility and they must take overall responsibility."

The Chinese government, the ACHC and the CPI have all expressed their wish to restart the controversial dam project.

Moreover, the Chinese government has invited members of Myanmar's political parties, including the NLD, as well as MPs and organizations representing the political parties, to pay a visit to China under the sponsorship of CPI and discuss the Myitsone dam project.

The NLD's members have visited China at least three times.

On August 11, 2011, Aung San Suu Kyi released a statement entitled "An appeal for Ayeyawaddy" when public opposition loudly demanded an end to the Myitsone dam project.

In the statement, Suu Kyi did not explicitly call for a half to construction of the project. However, she did urge the authorities to review the dam construction as a matter of national interest and in order to reassure the international community. She also urged the authorities to seek a result that would address the concerns of those who want to protect the Ayeyawaddy River and protect it from the harmful effects of industry.

Suu Kyi and her NLD party's not having declared a decisive position on the Myitsone dam project is not helpful to the voting public, says Than Htut Aung, CEO of Eleven Media Group. The EMG chair says that the NLD must clearly state their position on the Myitsone dam project because Suu Kyi could well become the president if the NLD wins the most votes in the coming 2015 election.

"The Myitsone dam project is not like the Letpadaung Taung issue. They must clearly demand the end of the Myitsone dam project without holding discussions. Whether it's President Thein Sein, Aung San Suu Kyi, Thura Shwe Mann or, finally, the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services who decides to carry out construction of the Myitsone dam project, they will have to face the entire people directly. That's why the public needs to know, clearly, before the election," said Than Htut Aung.

"The government needs to decide whether or not to continue the Myitsone dam project. The former government was the main culprit because they [the State Peace and Development Council] had planned to construct the Myitsone dam project. At present, the government is freed from being a main culprit because they suspended the construction. But the next government will be the main culprit if they continue to build the Myitsone dam project."

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/nld-and-its-leader-indecisive-over-myanmars-myitsone-project/