Who Gives a Dam? Skip to main content

Who Gives a Dam?

Since Burmese President Thein Sein's decision to suspend construction on the Myitsone dam project, The Irrawaddy has been inundated with readers' comments and contributors' opinions.  We also provides a selection of responses and opinions from leading Burmese observers in reaction to the comments from China’s Foreign Ministry and China Power Investment Corporation on the suspension of the Myitsone Dam.

“A humanitarian spirit is utmost important in any activity—whether you tap natural resources in a foreign land or in your own country. In this case with China, our country have suffered an enormous amount of losses, and there are also even cases when materials from our country had been exploited even before the relevant projects were not completed.
“Because of the Myitsone suspension, China wants compensations according to legal agreements. But, it is China who should compensate Burma because our people have already got into trouble created by the project. I am in full support of our president's decision that was taken in response to public concerns.”
——Actor Kyaw Thu, the chairman of Free Funeral Service Society (Rangoon)
“It is not strange that China wants to protect the interests of its companies. It has loudly voiced calls for the protection of its companies invested in Africa. In fact, Chinese companies, not their government, must make these voices protect themselves according to legal bindings. There is no point in the Chinese government intervening in these issues. So that's why I find the Chinese foreign ministry's reaction to Myitsone crisis quite weird.
“Over 50 years ago when the Chinese premier Zhou Enlai visited Burma, he had a meeting with Chinese people and businessmen in our country. At that time, he told the Chinese people to respect the laws of Burma and live in harmony with the Burmese people because they were residing and doing business in Burma.
“But these days, China's strong reaction to this Myitsone crisis is more of a threat from its policy to our country 50 years ago. China should act very cautiously in this Myitsone case in which the Burmese public are strongly opposed. It should be aware of its due obligations and duties.”
——Win Tin, a senior leader of the National League for Democracy

“China and Burma have had a friendly relationship since the former was under the administration of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. As one of the largest countries in the world, China has more responsibility to preserve that tradition and not to let it be destroyed by inordinate greed. In the past, China continually opposed colonizers. But now, it has to think about whether it should do the same as the colonizers. Burmese people will safeguard the Irrawaddy River at all cost.
——Ludu Sein Win, a veteran journalist

“Chinese companies and businessmen, whose sole focus is economic interest, may feel offended by the project suspension as they have exploited it for easy advantages. They may feel that the delicious food they thought they were going to eat was dropped abruptly before it was about to reach their mouths.
“The project seems to be a joint venture between a thief and a fence, so when they were finally caught they tried to scream and accuse the owner of committing a crime.”
——Maung Wun Tha, consultant editor, People's Era Journal

“The Chinese have already paid a deposit and invested partially in the Myitsone project. So, they can claim and sue for what they have spent. It is their right. As for President Thein Sein, he suspended the project because he respects the Burmese people's desire.
“The Chinese say the suspension took place without their knowledge or agreement. This is an insult to the state's sovereignty. I can't accept that at all.

“They can sue the Burmese government. But, the President valued his people's voices and made the decision to suspend the project under various circumstances.


If they interfere in his decision I believe they don't respect us and insult Burma's sovereignty. I entirely don't accept any kind of interference that doesn't respect people's desire and that tries to bully them.”——U Ohn, an environmentalist

“The President's decision was a rightful act as it respects people's desires. If we have to go to an international trial regarding this case, we will. But, I don't think both countries will let bilateral relations be affected by this situation.
——Thakhin Chan Htun, a former ambassador

“The Chinese response obviously shows that what their speeches about the benefits to people from both countries and bilateral friendship were superficial. They expressed their real feelings when their contract with the Burmese government became different from what they had expected. They didn't express equality in bilateral relations and responded upper-handedly.
“As for the Burmese government, it represented the desire of its own citizens when it made the decision to suspend the project. The Chinese already know how much trouble the Burmese face.
“What is China's attitude on bilateral friendship between people from both countries? Their response indicates that they don't care about the Burmese people. It was apparent that they couldn't stand it when their interests took a hit.”
——Aung Kyaw Zaw, a political observer based at the Sino-Burmese border

“China should reconsider the implementation of the Myitsone Dam project. Armed conflict is taking place in Kachin State. If the Chinese want to do such business with the Burmese government in this area their whole project will be unstable and risky. The Chinese said the project is for mutual benefit. The CPI Chairman even said that. In fact, they will earn large profits from this project. But local people who rely on the Irrawaddy River don't receive any. The project was signed only with the government—the people were not informed about it.”
——Arr Nan, the head of Kachin State Social Development Network

“I think when President Thein Sein said he will suspend the Myitsone Dam project during his presidency that was his individual opinion. It was not like a government decision. It was just a President's speech. Also, we haven't seen any law promulgated in order to confirm the President's decision and stop the project, so I don't think there will be any impact on CPI.”
——La Nan, Joint General Secretary, Kachin Independence Organization

“Whether CPIC or China, they work for their own interests. They will respond once their interests are affected.
“From the north to the delta, the Irrawaddy River flows across the country. The Myitsone Dam project will impact those who rely on the river for a living.
“President Thein Sein's government has now suspended the project to comply with the people's desire. This is a good move. What is written in the project contract and the consequence of suspension will be another story. That issue may have to be solved legally. Burmese people can no way accept the project. I don't think President Thein Sein or the new government will neglect the people's desire and implement it.
——Aye Thar Aung, Secretary, Committee Representing the People's Parliament

“CPIC is a state-owned company, so criticism should be directed at the Chinese government. Not only in Burma, but China has built dams in other countries. I didn't hear any serious criticism from China when a big Chinese-financed dam in Laos was stopped by the Laotian government.
“Serious criticism over the suspension of Myitsone Dam project indicates that China seems to consider Burma as its colony or small state. Burmese people were not informed about the project when it was agreed. But, China criticized us when people raised their voice against the project, and President Thein Sein decided to suspend it. It means that China considers our country its subordinate.”
——Zeyar Thaw, hip-hop singer

“I think President Thein Sein inquired a bit about Beijing's possible response to the suspension of the Myitsone Dam project before he made that decision.

So far, the Chinese government has said Naypyidaw has to protect its company in any case. However, this project is not the only investment Beijing has in Burma. Kyaukpyu deep seaport project in Arakan State is more important than Myitsone. I don't think the Chinese will ever let the Kyaukpyu project be affected because the profits they will gain is beyond economic interest. It is strategically important to them. So, I don't think they will do much about the suspension of the Myitsone project. I don't think they want to lose face.
“We don't want the dam construction to continue. It also reminds us of other related issues such as deforestation, preservation of the Irrawaddy River, the collapse of riverbanks and sandbanks. We also have to take care of them.”
——Aw Pi Kyae, cartoonist

http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22217&page=1

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Chronology of the Press in Burma

1836 – 1846 * During this period the first English-language newspaper was launched under British-ruled Tenasserim, southern  Burma . The first ethnic Karen-language and Burmese-language newspapers also appear in this period.     March 3, 1836 —The first English-language newspaper,  The Maulmain Chronicle , appears in the city of Moulmein in British-ruled Tenasserim. The paper, first published by a British official named E.A. Blundell, continued up until the 1950s. September 1842 —Tavoy’s  Hsa-tu-gaw  (the  Morning Star ), a monthly publication in the Karen-language of  Sgaw ,  is established by the Baptist mission. It is the first ethnic language newspaper. Circulation reached about three hundred until its publication ceased in 1849. January 1843 —The Baptist mission publishes a monthly newspaper, the Christian  Dhamma  Thadinsa  (the  Religious Herald ), in Moulmein. Supposedly the first Burmese-language newspaper, it continued up until the first year of the second Angl

ARSA claims ambush on Myanmar security forces

Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on Sunday claimed responsibility for an ambush on Myanmar security forces that left several wounded in northern Rakhine state, the first attack in weeks in a region gutted by violence. Rakhine was plunged into turmoil last August, when a series of ARSA raids prompted a military backlash so brutal the UN says it likely amounts to ethnic cleansing of the Muslim Rohingya minority. The army campaign sent some 650,000 Rohingya fleeing for Bangladesh, where refugees have given harrowing accounts of rape, murder and arson at the hands of security forces and vigilantes. Myanmar's military, which tightly controls information about Rakhine, denies any abuses and insists the crackdown was a proportionate response to crush the "terrorist" threat. ARSA have launched few attacks in recent months.  But the army reported that "about ten" Rohingya terrorists ambushed a car with hand-made mines and gunfire on Friday morning

Thai penis whitening trend raises eyebrows

Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do