| For Immediate Release
83 Thai and Burmese NGOs demand stoppage of Chinese dams on Nu/Salween river in China Contacts: Wandee Suntivutimetee, Salween News Network 66(0)1-7208773 Pianporn Deetes, SEARIN, 66(0)1-4220111 Dec. 16 2003, Chiang Mai: 83 Thai and Burmese NGOs have signed a letter of petition and submitted it to the ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Bangkok demanding a halt of the projects to build a series of large hydropower dams on Nujiang river in China. Nujiang is the upper reaches of the Salween river shared by downstream countries including Thailand and Burma. The river and the basins have been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The letter demands comprehensive disclosure of information concerning development projects of the entire river in China. It calls for participation of people and nations which share the river in any decision makings. Currently, the Chinese authority already approves the construction of 13 dams on the river in China, the first of which shall be commenced within this December in Lew Ku town, without due consultation process with their own public and affected communities as well as communities and governments in downstream countries. Most signatory organizations work either on the environment or human rights issues including SEARIN (Southeast Asia River Network), Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma, Salween Watch, and several other Shan, Karen and Karenni organizations such as Shan Human Rights Foundation, Karen Rivers Watch, Karenni Evergreen, Women's League of Burma, etc. Part of the letters reads; “The Nu/Salween, the last free-flowing international river in the region, is shared by three countries… The peoples and the natural environment in the Nu/Salween River Basin will be drastically impacted by any major hydropower development undertaken by China on the river… (Therefore) environmental and social impact assessments should be comprehensive, including meaningful public participation, and should be carried out according to international standards. Furthermore, they should cover the impacts in the entire watershed, and not be limited to areas in China alone.” “Information concerning the environmental and social impacts of the projects must be thoroughly disclosed and made known to concerned parties, including people and communities upstream and downstream” said Chainarong Sethachue, SEARIN’s director. “Failing to include participatory and transparent process in the decision makings concerning the dam projects in China shall set precedence for the other dam projects in Salween river to follow.” Two large dam projects are pending in the Salween river including the 5,000 megawatt hydropower dam in Shan state and another dam with the equivalent capacity in the river, the portion of which borders Thailand and Burma. Southeast Asia Rivers Network 16 December 2003
We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to express our concerns about the plans to develop large hydropower projects on the Nu/Salween River in China. We have learned that Chinese authorities plan to approve the construction of a major dam at Liuku within this month, without consultation with downstream countries and communities. We understand that there are further plans to build a total of thirteen large dams on the mainstream Nu/Salween. The Nu/Salween, the last free-flowing international river in the region, is shared by three countries. Large numbers of peoples of many different ethnicities depend on the river for their livelihood. Nutrients carried down the river are a vital resource for downstream fisheries, and for fertilizing large areas of cultivated land. Forests and wetlands along the entire river, including the UNESCO World Heritage site in Yunnan, are home to many diverse species of wildlife and contain areas of great natural beauty. The peoples and the natural environment in the Nu/Salween River Basin will be drastically impacted by any major hydropower development undertaken by China on the river. Therefore, we request the Chinese government to suspend the project immediately. The peoples in the Nu/Salween River Basin should be provided with timely and complete information about the planned developments and be entitled to participate in the decision-making process. Before making decisions on the dam projects, there should be consensus among the riparian countries on the terms of environmental and social impact assessments, on mitigation measures, water management regimes, and reparation or compensation for negative downstream impacts. Environmental and social impact assessments should be comprehensive, including meaningful public participation, and should be carried out according to international standards. Furthermore, they should cover the impacts in the entire watershed, and not be limited to areas in China alone.
Sincerely yours,
Southeast Asia Rivers Network, Thailand This letter is also endorsed by the following 82 organizations All Burma Students' Democratic Front Alternative Energy Project for Sustainability, Thailand Altsean-Burma Arakan Youth Network group Assembly of the Poor, Thailand Buntad Ranges Community Empowerment Project, Thailand Burma Today News and Media Campaign for Media Reform, Thailand Campaign for Popular Democracy, Thailand Community Forest Support Group, Thailand Community Network for Saving River Basins in Maehongson, Thailand Community University, Thailand Coordinating Committee of Human Rights Organization of Thailand Concerned Individuals of Burma Costal Zone Management through Community Organization and Network in Southern Thailand Dictator Watch EarthRights International Friends of People, Thailand Friends Without Borders Images Asia Kachin State National Congress for Democracy Karen Environmental and Social Action Network Karen Studies and Development Center, Thailand Karen Rivers Watch Karenni Evergreen Karenni Information Network Group Karenni National Women Organization Karenni Social Welfare Committee Karenni Refugee Committee Karenni Student Union Karenni Teacher Union Lahu National Development Organization Metta Dhammaraksa Foundation Mon Unity League Nationalities Youth Development Program Ngwetaung Nature Network NGO Coordinating Committee on Rural Development (NGO-CORD North), Thailand NGO Coordinating Committee on Rural Development (NGO-CORD South), Thailand NGOs Network on Costal Resources Management in Southern Thailand Northern Farmers Federation, Thailand Northern Development Foundation, Thailand Peace and Human Rights Resource Center, Thailand People's Defense Force People's Liberation Front (Burma) Project for Recovery of Life and Culture, Thailand Project for River and Community, Thailand Salween Watch Salween News Network Sekhiyadhamma Group Seub Nakhasathien Foundation Shan Democratic Union Shan Human Rights Foundation Shan State Organization Shan Youth Power Media Shan Youth Network Group Student and Youth Congress of Burma Students Federation of Thailand Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma Thai Volunteer Service The Women's League of Burma comprising11 organizations: Burmese Women's Union Kachin Women's Association/Thailand Karen Women's Organization Kuki Women's Human Rights Organization Lahu Women's Organization Palaung Women's Organization Pa-O Women's Union Rakhine Women's Union Shan Women's Action Network Tavoy Women's Union Women's Rights and Welfare Association of Burma United Nationalities Youth League comprising: All Arakan Students and Youth Congress All Kachin Students and Youth Union Chin Student Union Karen Youth Organization Karenni National Youth Organization Kayan New Generation Youth Lahu Democratic Front – Youth Mon Unity League – Youth Pa O Youth Organization Palaung Youth Network Group Wildlife Fund Thailand Youth Rivers Network, Thailand Youth Training Program for Social Development, Thailand CC: Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Kingdom of Thailand |
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