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DAM-L LS: More on Xe Kaman developer jailed in Laos (fwd)

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Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 10:47:13 -0800 (PST)
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Subject: LS: More on Xe Kaman developer jailed in Laos
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111901 Australia-- Secrecy shrouds Laos man

By Kimina Lyall, South-East Asia correspondent and
Bruce Montgomery 19nov01

JAILED Australian engineer Peter Martin was extremely secretive about the 
$US500 million ($957 million) hydro-power project he was trying to build in 
southern Laos, but he was also optimistic about his chances of success.

A picture of Mr Martin has begun to emerge after his arrest in Laos last 
week on allegations he owed $US240,000 to his employees and had written a 
$US40,000 cheque to one of them that bounced.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said yesterday the arrest was "something 
to do with some finance problem, but the actual details of it we've not 
been able to establish".

Mr Martin's wife, Julie, who lives in Hobart, would not comment on her 
husband's arrest. Their neighbours say he spends little time in Hobart.

A Laos police source told The Australian that should Mr Martin be 
convicted, he could face a fine and prison term and there would be further 
discussions about his suitability to continue with the project.

The Xe Kaman 1 project to build a 468-megawatt dam was originally 
negotiated by the Tasmanian Government's Hydro Electric Commission, but was 
later taken over by Mr Martin as part of the commission's privatisation in 
1996.

Academics and environmentalists who have studied the project say it is 
conducted under a shroud of secrecy.

Andrew Wyatt, the acting director of the Australian Mekong Resource Centre 
at Sydney University, said yesterday he had interviewed Mr Martin earlier 
this year for his PhD research, but found him to be reticent about 
disclosing details.

"He seems unwilling to undergo any public scrutiny and that sets him apart 
from the rest of the hydropower projects in the region," Mr Wyatt said.

There was a widespread perception of secrecy surrounding Mr Martin within 
the Laos Government, and the hydropower and expat communities, he said.

Mr Wyatt said Mr Martin would not provide him with the names of the 
shareholders in the company now responsible for the project, Austral Lao 
Power, or one of its key backers, Anscan.

The Hobart office of consulting engineers Gutteridge Haskins and Davey 
carried out environmental assessment work for about five years in Laos and 
hope to continue with the work.

GHD's Tim Burbury said he had not spoken to Mr Martin for six months, when 
he said he was still trying to find funding.

"We spent a lot of time in Laos with Peter and it's a pretty difficult 
situation there if the Government's not happy with you," he said.

"While he has been arrested, I wouldn't necessarily say he has done 
anything wrong. But if you are not paying your bills, you're in trouble 
that's for sure."

© News Limited

http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,3275392%255E421,00.html


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