Activist group calls for cancellation of seven dams on Irrawaddy River

Mizzima News
Friday, 30 September

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Burma Rivers Network (BRN) released a press statement on Friday saying that China Power Investment must cancel not only the Myitsone Dam project, but all seven dam projects on the Irrawaddy River.

The statement said that it was encouraged by Burmese President Thein Sein's decision on Friday to halt the construction of the Myitsone Dam, but it wanted to see China Power Investment (CPI) remove all its personnel and equipment from the dam construction site.


An artist's conception of the controversial Myitsone Dam project on the

Irrawaddy River, which is the subject of increasing protests by environmental groups.

“Only their actions will confirm whether the dam is indeed suspended,” the statement said. It also urged that villagers who had been forced to move to a relocation camp because of the construction of the dam should be allowed to return to their homes.

Ah Nan, the assistant BRN coordinator, said in the statement, “Until the Chinese project holders publicly declare their cancellation of the Myitsone Dam and pull out from the dam site, we must assume the project is going ahead.”

China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) is a Chinese state-owned electrical company that partnered with Burma’s state power utility Myanma Electric Power Enterprise (MEPE) and the Burmese conglomerate Asia World.

"BRN also urges continued pressure on the military government and the CPI to immediately cancel the other six mega-dams planned on the Irrawaddy source rivers, which will have the same devastating impacts on the country," said the statement.

BRN said that even if construction of the dam is halted and the project cancelled, the group's campaign to stop all seven hydropower dams at the source of Burma's largest river will continue.

"Building these six dams will also cause irreparable environmental destruction, unpredictable water surges and shortages, and inflict social and economic damage to the millions who depend on the Irrawaddy. Thousands of Kachin villagers will also be forced to relocate," the statement said.

BRN sent a letter to the President Hu Jintao of China, urging him to reconsider China's dam policy in Burma and to conduct proper environmental and social impact studies in the areas surrounding the dam sites, Mizzima reported in December 2007.

"If the Myitsone project is indeed cancelled, this would be a great victory for the people of Burma, especially the brave villagers at the Myitsone site who stood up to the Burmese Army and refused to make way for the project," said the BRN statement.