Myanmar News Articles: Shan rights groups call for Burmese government to halt dam projects

CHIANG MAI- April 2. Dozens of Shan civil society organizations are calling for the Burmese government to halt dam projects on the Salween and Nam Ma rivers in Shan State. The groups expressed concern that the dam projects are likely to have negative impacts for local people.

According to the joint statement released by the Shan civil society organizations on April 1 of 2014, representatives of Burma's Ministry of Electricity, International Group of Entrepreneurs Co., Ltd. and Hydrochina Corporation held a public meeting with villagers in Tarngyan township on March 17, to promote plans to build the Nawng Pha dam on the Salween river and the Mann Toung dam on the Nam Ma river, a Salween tributary.

The statement said: "We are very concerned at the likely negative impacts on the environment and on the communities that live along the length of the river. We therefore strongly urge the Burmese government to immediately halt the dam projects on Salween and Nam Ma Rivers in Shan State."

The statement also said: "The Salween and Nam Ma rivers have sustained the livelihood of Shan State people for generations. They are a precious resource which should not be sold off to China by the Burmese government."

According to the statement Hydrochina Corporation has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Electricity for a 40-year concession for the hydropower projects. 90% of the electricity will be exported to China and 10% will be used in Burma.

Additionally, the statement said: "About 100 people from 10 villages situated about 30-40 miles from the dam projects were invited to attend the meeting, but villages which are very close to the projects and likely to suffer the most negative impacts from the dam projects were not invited to participate."

The statement said: "There has been no transparent impacts assessment for the dams, and no free, prior informed consent of local people, who remain in fear of the Burma Army."

Sai Khur Hseng said, "Every battle in Shan State is related to conflict of interest and dam projects."

The joint statement of concern was issued by Shan civil society organizations, including the grouping of Shan Community Based-organizations, Tai Youth Network, Shan State Youth Network Committee, Shan Students Union-Thailand and thousands of individual signatories from 15 townships in Shan State and Mandalay.