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27 January, 1999
Sender: owner-irn-mekong@igc.org
Subject: LS: Shan Burmese Rebels Blast Junta Over 3700 MW Dam.
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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.
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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
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