NLD promises to listen to public on Myitsone Dam

He said yesterday that the new government would heed public opinion before making the next move and if the project does not win public approval, it would not be resumed. 

“We have always faced questions on this. Anybody can say what they want. But as the spokesperson of the party, the o nly thing I can say is our policy is clear.  We have special consideration for the people. We will not do it if people do not agree. Our chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi already mentioned it. We will aim for the development of the people,” he said.

Suu Kyi said during her election campaign in Myitkyina, Kachin State, that she had not seen the details of the Myitsone dam agreement and after studying it she would seek the people's opinion to decide what to do.

Local concerns intensified after the Chinese ambassador to Myanmar Hong Liang said on March 4 that China would seek every possible way to resume the project by cooperating with the NLD. Reuters reported that the Chinese deputy minister for foreign affairs Liu Zhenmin said Beijing would urge the new government to resume the project, as it was still valid.

“It is an important cooperation project to implement between the two countries. In 2011, Myanmar postponed it but the contract is still valid. Cooperation is important for both countries. When the new government takes office, the Chinese government will continue to discuss ways to restart the project,” said Liu Zhenmin.