Dammed by Burma’s Generals - Salween River Dams
The Salween River, one of the great rivers of Southeast Asia, is under threat. The governments of the Salween countries; Burma, Thailand and China have been pushing forward with plans to dam this still free-flowing river. It is planned to both exploit the hydropower potential of the entire river basin, as well as to divert water to Thailand.

One of the world’s most threatening developments, in both human and environmental terms, is taking place on the Salween River in Burma, China and Thailand. It involves the building of several major dams on the Salween which will drown enormous areas of forest lands, rich in bio-diversity, and force the eviction of Burma’s ethnic peoples, including Karenni, Shan and Karen. In one case, an entire tribal population is likely to be forcibly relocated, with the likely result of eliminating them and their unique culture. In a recent March 2006 report from the Karenni Development Research Group, called Dammed by Burma’s Generals*, the Karenni people speak of upwards of 30,000 people being displaced from their hereditary lands and the loss of 28 towns and villages.

>Ironically, this project which is being driven forward by the Burmese military government, as well as the Thai government, will provide hydro-electric power which Burma itself does not need. The electricity generated will be sold by the Burmese junta to Thailand, providing a rich income for the regime.

On 14 March last, 359 people of different ethic nationalities from seven Burmese social organisations, as well as Thai social organisations and local villagers attended an International Day of Action Against Dams for Water and Life event held in one of the five planned Dam sites, Wei Gyi, adjacent by Mae Hong Son Province, inside Karen State in Burma. The event was hosted by the Karen Rivers Watch. The coalition members/or signing organisations present, called on the Thai government and the Burmese military regime known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to discontinue plans to build dams on the Salween River. Currently 25,000 people along Thai-Burma border, IDPs and Karen people from different districts inside Karen State have signed a petition against the planned project. In a statement issued on 14 March, the collective gathered said: “We urge SPDC regime to immediately stop waging wars against ethnic people along the border, stop the planned dam projects across Salween River, forced labour, extortion of money, torture and extrajudicial killings of the Karen people and burning of Karen villages”.

To access this report Dammed by Burma’s Generals, log on to:

*The report’s full title is as follows: Dammed by Burma’s Generals – The Karenni Experience with Hydropower Development from Lawpita to the Salween.

    Please sign the online petition here