The Action for Shan State Rivers (ASSR) has strongly objected the hydropower stakeholder meeting held by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Taunggyi, southern Shan State to carry out assessment for building dams.
The Shan Sapawa Environmental Organization called for the suspension of meetings and assessment on building the dams on the rivers in Myanmar including the Salween River while the military conflicts are still rising in the country and the peace dialogues have been blocked.
“We are opposing because local residents have to flee from the fighting near the dams and they keep insisting on building the dams in the conflict areas while ignoring the clashes,” said Sai Khur Hseng from the Shan Sapawa Environmental Organization.
According to the organization, six hydropower projects have been proposed on the Salween River and four of them in the Shan State.
The organization claimed that around 300,000 people will be affected by these projects in the Shan State.
“Around ten villages will be affected in Kunlong area. Naung Pha dam will affect [the villages] along Tangyan and Hopang areas. The two dams in Mong Ton will affect the villages under Kunhing, Karli, and Mong Ping townships and also the villages from the valley in Kinlone, Kintaung, and Kinkham area. Over 100 villages will be affected in the valley. So, over 200 villages will be affected in the Shan State. The estimated [affected] population is over 300,000,” said Sai Khur Hseng.
In the statement issued on January 15, the ASSR said the government’s attempt to go on building dams unilaterally in ethnic conflict areas is dangerous and provocative despite the fact that management of natural resources has been still under negotiation.
Sai Khur Hseng said the proposed dam projects on the Salween River in the Shan State are located in military conflict areas.
“Along the Salween River, [the Tatmadaw] is fighting the KIA (Kachin Independence Army) in Kunlong area. It is also in a conflict with the TNLA (Ta’ang National Liberation Army). There is also a conflict with the SSPP (Shan State Progress Party) in the northern Shan State. Clashes frequently break out along Kunlong and Naung Pha,” he explained.
The IFC has been holding discussions on dam development in Myanmar and conducting environmental impact assessment and social impact assessment for building dams.
A similar meeting was held in the Shan State in early 2017.
