Relocated residents plead for end to Myitsone Dam project
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Local people relocated for the controversial Myitsone Dam on the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River in Kachin State, northern Myanmar, say they are now facing hardship and poor living conditions.
Moves are reportedly being made to restart the Chinese-funded project, whose suspension by President Thein Sein in September 2011 was hailed by residents and rights groups as a milestone on the road to Myanmar democracy. Western powers, including the US and the EU, also welcomed the decision.
Now, if the project continues, as many as 47 more villages with a total population of 10,505 will have to be relocated. Local residents are asking officials to stop the project.
Residents already relocated from six villages say they are only making a meager living after being uprooted.
“Most of the people relocated for the Myitsone find their living very hard. If this goes on, things will get even worse. We don’t agree with the project continuing. Villagers find it very difficult to make a living. It’s easier for them to make a living in their former villages. The project is not helpful for the region. I think it should be stopped,” said Too Khaung, a Christian cleric from Tangpe.
Most of the electricity produced by the Myitsone Hydroelectric Dam will go to China.
Relocated locals say they have to travel much further now to earn a living, as their new villages have no land worthy of cultivating.
During October 10 peace talks in Kachin between the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) rebel group and the government, the KIO reiterated their opposition to the dam denied it was a key reason behind their armed conflict with government troops.
“In fact, it’s not. But [we] sent a letter concerning the project to Senior General Than Shwe, the former state leader. And we also sent a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao about the issue,” said KIO General Gwan Maw, responding to a reporter’s question after the talks.
“We asked them to stop it. We welcome business investments coming here. But the Myitsone Dam is not suitable. We have already said that the local people do not like it. We want to say that our fight is not about Myitsone, and it won’t be in the future.”
