Warning to Chinese investors in Salween projects following Kokang clashes
Posted on September 1, 2009
Filed Under Burma news | Comments Off
map of clashes Source: Salween Watch
Last weeks armed clashed between the Burmese Army and Kokang rebels (see: Chinese soldier reported killed by stray shell as clashes in Shan State spread) should serve as a warning to Chinese companies investing in massive dam projects on the Salween River say activists in Burma’s Shan State.
The clashes left about 200 dead and forced around 30,000 refugees to flee into China. They were triggered by a build-up of Burmese Army troops in the area, as the ruling military junta tries to force unruly ethnic groups into line ahead of elections planned for next year.
In a statement, The Shan Sapawa Environmental Organisation, together with Salween Watch, a coalition of environmental groups said, “The renewed fighting and the flood of refugees into Yunnan should be a wake-up call to China about the risks of investing in Burma.”
“Not only is there no free and informed consent to these dam projects, but they are being built over the dead bodies of our people,” said Sapawa spokesperson Sai Khur Hseng
Burma is planning on building a series of hydroelectric dams along the Salween. Two Chinese companies, Hanergy Holding Group and Gold Water Resources Company are investing in the Upper Salween Dam, known as the Kunlong Dam. Chinese and Burmese technicians have been conducting feasibility studies for the 2,400 MW dam, 25 kilometres from the Chinese border
On Thursday, fighting broke out just 15 kilometres from the dam site.
The dam projects have been widely criticized by environmentalists and ethnic groups, who say they are intended to flood their homelands and allow the military to launch amphibious attacks.
Sapawa is calling on China to halt all investment in dams on the Salween River following the recent fighting.
Related posts:
- Chinese soldier reported killed by stray shell as clashes in Shan State spread Fighting in Burma’s northern Shan State intensified today, as the...
- Kokang rebels surrender arms to the Chinese The Sino-Burmese border was reported to be quiet today after...
- KNU calls for Thailand to pull out of Salween Dam projects The Karen national Union (KNU) is warning construction of the...
- Ethnic Kokang flee to China Members of the Kokang ethnic group in Northern Shan State...
- PLA deploys troops along Burmese border China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has deployed thousands of troops...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Comments
-
Mae Sot weather
