From dianne@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca Fri Jan 29 10:52:44 1999 X-UIDL: ab7c838a3b0e3e9f664e9f3156f8a252 >From majordom Fri Jan 29 10:52:44 1999 Return-Path: Received: from [[UNIX: localhost]] ([[UNIX: localhost]]) by lox.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca (8.8.7/8.8.8) id KAA00563 for dam-l-outgoing; Fri, 29 Jan 1999 10:52:35 -0500 (EST) Received: (from dianne@localhost) by lox.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca (8.8.7/8.8.8) id KAA00557 for dam-l@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca; Fri, 29 Jan 1999 10:52:33 -0500 (EST) Received: from igc7.igc.org (igc7.igc.org [192.82.108.35]) by lox.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca (8.8.7/8.8.8) with ESMTP id PAA17623 for ; Thu, 28 Jan 1999 15:41:57 -0500 (EST) Received: (from majordomo@localhost) by igc7.igc.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) id KAA22934; Thu, 28 Jan 1999 10:48:15 -0800 (PST) Received: from lanfill.lanminds.com (lanfill-fas1.lanminds.com [208.25.68.10]) by igc7.igc.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id KAA20241 for ; Thu, 28 Jan 1999 10:42:54 -0800 (PST) Received: from aviva.irn.org (irn9.there.net [208.25.72.74]) by lanfill.lanminds.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) with SMTP id KAA15839 for ; Thu, 28 Jan 1999 10:43:10 -0800 (PST) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 10:48:47 -0800 From: Aviva Imhof Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990128104847.00826880@pop.lmi.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 REUTERS: BURMESE REBELS BLAST JUNTA OVER DAM To: "undisclosed-recipients:;"@lox.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca Sender: owner-dam-l@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca Precedence: bulk Reply-To: dam-l@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca Status: OR 27 January, 1999 Sender: owner-irn-mekong@igc.org Subject: LS: Shan Burmese Rebels Blast Junta Over 3700 MW Dam. To: irn-mekong@igc.org X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.5 (32) X-Sender: aviva@pop.lmi.net ONE of Burma's ethnic rebel groups yesterday blasted the country's military government for pushing ahead with a plan to build a hydroelectric dam in the minority's area while overlooking the possible social and environmental impact. "They are looking to carry out this project without taking into consideration the high human cost," said Seng Suk, a senior member of the Shan Democratic Union, a rebel group fighting the military government of Burma, for autonomy. He said many people could be displaced from their homes. An industry source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said such criticism was premature, because the project was still in the planning stage. Whether it materialises will depend on the social costs, environmental factors and political stability in the area, he said. Seng Suk's criticism came after a team of experts entered the area recently for a survey before conducting a feasibility study for the dam's construction. "The surveyors, assisted by Burmese army engineers have reportedly begun dynamiting and drilling a number of deep holes into the rocks at the base of the gorge and along the river," Seng Suk said. The proposed dam is in Ta Sang in southern Shan State, where more than 300,000 Shan villagers so far have been forced out of their homes under a three-year-old government campaign to put Shan villagers into holding centres, he charged. He added that there has been combat between the government and rebels in the area. The military government of Burma denies it carries out forced mass relocations. Rebel leaders and Thai Army officers monitoring the situation said they believe the dam project is part of a scheme to cut off all possible civilian support for armed ethnic groups fighting the government. Seng Suk said the dam would produce an estimated 3,700 megawatts of electricity. Source: BurmaNet News, Jan. 27, 1999. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* Aviva Imhof South-East Asia Campaigns International Rivers Network 1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley CA 94703 USA Tel: + 1 510 848 1155 (ext. 312), Fax: + 1 510 848 1008 Email: aviva@irn.org, Web: http://www.irn.org *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*