Thailand warned of dire consequences from Salween dam project
Posted on November 23, 2009
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Map of Salween River (click to enlarge)
A group of 189 Thai civil organisations are calling on the Thai government to withdraw from the Hutgyi dam project on the Salween River or face dire consequences.
Dpa reports the group delivered a letter to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva warning that the dam, 47 kilometers from the Thai-Burma border would flood a large area on both sides of the border and lead to major human rights abuses, causing an influx of refugees into Thailand.
The activists warn that despite talk of international engagement with the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), as Burma’s ruling military junta chooses to be known, the objections to the dam and others along the Salween remain.
Pianporn Deetes, coordinator of the Living River Siam-Southeast Asia Rivers Network is quoted as saying, “We are extremely worried that local people will be devastated if dams like the Hutgyi go ahead because outsiders mistakenly think there has been a political breakthrough of some kind.”
Seven large dams are planned along the Salween, which will supply electricity mainly to China and Thailand.
The activists warn the dams will come at the expense of the flight of numerous innocent people who are forced to abandon their homes and become refugees or cheap labour in Thailand.
Earlier this year, several thousand Karen villagers were forced to flee to Thailand to escape fighting between the Burmese Army and the Karen National Union (see: Villagers flee offensive as Thailand prepares for influx of refugees). They joined the over 100,000 mostly Karen refugees living in camps along the border.
The Democratic Voice of Burma, quotes Sayan Khamnueng, field coordinator at Living Rivers Siam, one of the signatories to the petition, as saying that the Thai government has no clear-cut policy to deal with refugees already living in camps close to its border with Burma.
“We think around 41 communities in Burma and 10 in Thailand will be affected by the dam,” he said. “Most of the people in the 10 Thai communities are already stateless, and so are unlikely to receive any compensation from the Thai government.”
Following a lengthy review of its Burma policy, the US recently adopted a policy of engagement with the junta. But, activist group, the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma warns that Burma’s regional neighbours may use the new US policy as an excuse for complacency.
In a briefer issued this month, they said, “Burma’s neighbours have deliberately misread Washington’s new approach and used it to justify greater tolerance of the regime’s escalating crimes against humanity and war crimes.”
Related posts:
- KNU calls for Thailand to pull out of Salween Dam projects The Karen national Union (KNU) is warning construction of the...
- Thailand warned to prepare for refugees to stay for the long-term Renewed conflict in Burma’s ethnic homelands could force an influx...
- Warning to Chinese investors in Salween projects following Kokang clashes Last weeks armed clashed between the Burmese Army and Kokang...
- Refugees in Thailand under pressure Some 3,000 Karen refugees a few hours from Mae Sot...
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