Burmese environmentalists urge govt to halt dams on Irrawaddy, Salween rivers
A number of Burmese
environmental organizations, including Burma Rivers Network, Save
the Salween Network and The Burma Environmental Working Group (BEWG), released a statement today urging the National
League for Democracy-led government to abandon plans to build more than 50 dams
on the Salween and Irrawaddy rivers, particularly in conflict zones.
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| About 300 people gather at Kunhing Township, southern Shan State to protest against dam projects on March 14, 2017. |
“Under Burma’s Energy Master Plan, over 50 planned dams, mostly on the
Salween and Irrawaddy rivers and their tributaries, will massively increase
hydropower production from 3,000 to 46,000 megawatts by 2030,” reads the
statement. “Three-quarters of which will be exported to neighbouring
countries.”
The statement was released to
coincide with the International Day of Action for Rivers, an annual event on
March 14, when protestors around the globe gather to voice opposition against governments
and investors who push through plans to construct hydro-dams in controversial
areas.
On January 27, 2017, Shan Herald reported that the International
Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group which finances
private sector initiatives in many developing countries including Burma,
conducted workshops to promote hydropower projects in the country.
“Foreign investors should not be building dams in Burma’s conflict zones,”
said Mi Ah Chai, coordinator of Burma Rivers Network. “The dams are fuelling
conflict, human rights abuses and displacement, and destroying local
environmental resources,” she said in the joint statement.
Nang Moe Thauk Pan of Save the Salween Network and a joint spokesperson for today’s statement told Shan Herald that
the hydropower projects will affect the peace process – at a point when
negotiations are being tabled to bring together the Burmese government, the
military and ethnic armed groups. Known as the 21st Century Panglong
Conference, or 21CPC, the peace talks are being led by Burma’s State Counselor
Aung San Suu Kyi.
Nang Mao Thauk Pan said, “Fighting
continues in Shan and Karen states, but the government perseveres in trying to
build dams. Clearly, it is going to impact the peace process.”
The statement went on to say that no dams should be built until Burma
becomes a federal union, and that only the people living in those areas should
have the right to decide what should be done with their natural resources.
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| About 300 people gather at Kunhing Township, southern Shan State to protest against dam projects on March 14, 2017. |
Environmentalist Nang Moe Thauk Pan said that she stands by this statement
and that people who live along the rivers also stand by the statement.
“We don’t need any dams on the
rivers,” she said. “We want to live peacefully. We love our nature and our
rivers. Our rivers are our lives.”
Events in support of imposing a
ban or suspension on hydroelectric dams were held today in Mon State capital Mawlamyine;
the Kachin State town of Chipwi; Mudraw in Karen State; Kunhing Township in
Shan State; and in Karenni State.
By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
Tags: Environment, News
