Burmese villagers forced to move for a Chinese dam
With permission from the Burmese junta, a Chinese electricity giant is building seven hydro-electric dams in Burma's northern region of Kachin. The biggest of them - the Myitsone Dam - will see the forced displacement of 15,000 people from surrounding villages.
After seven years of negotiation and assessment, construction on the Myitsone damn began on December 21 2009. At 150 metres in both height and width, the dam will produce between 3,600 and 6,000 megawatts of electricity (the world's biggest dam - the Three Gorges in China - produces 18,200). It will also generate up to 500 million USD (368 million euros) per year for the Burmese junta.
Assessment of prospective flood zones. Image posted on Burma Rivers Network.
A local pro-autonomy political organisation called the Kachin Development Networking Group says that 47 villages, located in the world's eighth most bio-diverse region of the world, will be flooded because of the dam.
Dam plans. Image posted on Kachin News.
The land as it is now
Farmers on the banks of the Irrawaddy.
One of the homes that will be submerged after the dam is built.
Fishing in the Irrawaddy.
“When you think that the electricity produced will only serve China!”
London based Hkanhpa Sadan is secretary general of the Kachin Development Networking Group. He's regularly in contact with the anti-dam activists in Burma.
Future camps for the displaced, near to Myitkyina, Kachin province capital, January 2010.
The dam won't benefit the locals in any way. It's Chinese people who will come to work there, so no jobs will be created. When you think that the electricity produced will only serve China! And shipping Chinese workers into the region - who don't speak Burmese - will prove a real shock to the two communities.
On top of that, the impact on the environment will be enormous. The Irrawaddy is an important source for the whole region, and this dam will limit its biodiversity.
It also needs to be pointed out that the dam will sit on a fault line. If there should be an earthquake, a massive part of the region would be flooded and the repercussions could reach as far as towns like Mandalay [situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy, central Burma].
All of our cultural heritage is based on this confluence [the meeting of the Mali River and the N'Mai River]. At weddings, elders tell the story of the rivers meeting and becoming one. How will we explain such a thing to younger generations now?
Finally, the construction of the Myitsone Dam concerns our fight for self-autonomy in the province of Kachin. For 15 years now, the Independent Army of Kachin has respected a ceasefire negotiated with the Burmese army, but the conflict still exists. This dam will become a pretext for the junta to reinforce their troops and take further hold of the region."
The height of the dam marked by the "dam crest" sign. January 2010.
Ground-levelling machines of a Birman company, Asia World Co., working for the project. January 2010.
A storehouse built for the dam. January 2010.
Land-assessors study for foundation-laying. 2007.
A workers' camp set up by the construction company.
“Fifteen-thousand people will lose the means to feed themselves, people will have to fight for work and for land”
Ah Nan is a member of the Kachin Development Networking Group and anti-dam activist.
Almost 60 villages are about to go through forced evacuation; but so far, no permanent relocation plans have been drawn up. There will be a number of new social problems to be faced. Fifteen-thousand people will lose the means to feed themselves, people will have to fight for work and for land; some will have to migrate to neighbouring countries in order to find it."
A Catholic church that will be submerged if the dam is built.
Village residents: “We don’t want to leave”
Video posted on YouTube by "KachinNewsGroup".
On October10 2009, Burmese army commander Soe Win met with villagers from the Myitsone confluence. A representative from the village of Tangphre explained why the locals don’t want to move.
Comments
Same thing again?
Submitted by sees in the dark on Sat, 13/02/2010 - 19:37.Like what european did in Africa during its coloney days as, what the british did to India, during it thing there? What all european nations did to our,and still doing to this day? in what they call "The New World?" Also the culture time lines destoryed by this rape of there lands and culture? Same shit wine just a different label and new shaped bottle, But you all will still drink from it? Martian taught us, and even said theses words;" Those who knows that it is wrong but stand by, and allow it to happen,are more guilty!, than the one who did the actual act." How many time must the world learn the same hard learned mistake over and over and over?
ONCE AGAIN A VERY
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Sat, 13/02/2010 - 18:32.ONCE AGAIN A VERY INLIGHTNING AND INTERESTING PIECE OF JOURNALISM FRANCE24.
dams
Submitted by Unregistered userjoseph walker (not verified) on Fri, 12/02/2010 - 20:39.So what is the big deal prats,the chinese have permission from the burmese govt..ps if you morons want to talk about something i can give you a lot of material in the west,where they rip off its people,but you peasents can talk about your own failings.,get lost prats.come back when educated.
Your childish arrogance is laughable Joseph Walker!
Submitted by Katharina Sri (former: Noor Aza) (not verified) on Sat, 13/02/2010 - 00:24.You sound like a bully, I suspect a zombie product of the brutal China's Maoist and Burmese regimes! These regimes ar so evil - they keep destroying poor viallgers'lives, whether of the Chinese, Burmese or Tibetans! I hope one day, justice will be served and these regime leaders will be dragged down in chains to the International Court in the Hague! If that doesn't happen i this world, we Christians, put our hope in the ultimate justice in and by Christ.
re
Submitted by Unregistered userjoseph walker (not verified) on Sat, 13/02/2010 - 18:13.Silly girl,the only thing laughable is your intelligence,not mine.dont jump to assumptions,you hav'nt a clue where i was educated or born.to enlighten your ignorance,i was born in calcutta india,during the Raj,mother roman catholic,with scotish indian mother and my father was a protestent,i was educated in the privelege schools during the raj.the conclusion dont judge .ones nationality.
Hey Joseph Walker - why you like to be ersonally abusive?!
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Sun, 14/02/2010 - 23:25.You really don't belong in the modern world - cannot debate intelligently and rationally, except with personal abuses! And to women especially - you cannot accept a woamn like me challenging you intelligently is it? Get a modern education! And IF you're Indian as you claimed and Catholic, what do you have against Burmese oppressed and refugees, where many are Christians, especially the Karens?! And why are you defending zombie-like of the vile Chinise and Burmese regimes, and and full of vengeance, against the Burmese poor?
re
Submitted by Unregistered userjoseph walker (not verified) on Sat, 13/02/2010 - 19:24.Further to enlighten you,back in india,i did not hear this word nationality,we accepted people on who they were,and what principles they were brought on, nationality ,it is a word used by the devious white race,to divide its society,make its people divert they attention from the own conditions and its way of life.probably another reason why the east is east,and then you got the garbage west.Well not its people,just the devious people who represent them,and thier mouthpieces,the media,and broadcasters.
Unregistered userjoseph walker
Submitted by Jay (not verified) on Wed, 17/02/2010 - 16:21.You say "i was educated in the privelege schools during the raj.the conclusion dont judge .ones nationality."
Sorry, but your rant is clearly demonstrating that either the school was so inadequate that it couldn't educate you properly or you were too ignorant and inadequate a student to learn properly.
You ARE, as previously accused, a bully, and your replies show an ill-mannered and ill-educated one at that!
You also castigate entire nationalities and populations, with no justification for such generalised accusations.
You say "... we accepted people on who they were,and what principles they were brought on ..." and yet you then go on with the statements "... the devious white race, ..." and "... and then you got the garbage west ...".
Your comments contradict your claim and are about the most Racist comments that I've ever heard.
I suggest you get rid of the massive chip on your shoulder, since you are obviously very biased against many people just because of their colour or where they come from.