Who's profiting from dam construction?
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The question has to be asked as to who will make profit from the proposed Mae Wong Dam that will flood part of a protected national park that is an integral part of Thailand's western forest.
Certain faceless people have tried over the last 20 years to destroy parts of the largest system of protected rain forest left in mainland Southeast Asia, and – all credit to the Thai people – this reserve of 17 protected areas covering 18,000 square kilometres along the border with Myanmar is still protected.
However, certain faceless people seem determined to destroy parts of the reserve again – so let’s start asking the hard questions. Who will profit from flooding parts of this reserve? Who will move in and “remove” the valuable trees before the land is flooded? Once we know that, we can see who is responsible for the continued onslaught against the Thai people’s natural heritage.
This time they are trying to line their pockets by slipping the project in under the disguise of the Thailand Flood Management Plan, which, due to the urgency, is being fast-tracked. Can we suggest that, once we know who wants to destroy parts of this heritage site, we insist they resign immediately and never again hold public office?
Sebastian Woods
Chiang Mai
