Thailand claims that the dams on the Salween River will benefit the Thai people by producing
electricity. However, there has been no needs assessment for the
projects. The November 2002 World Commission on Dams report contains
evidence from around the world that dams do not fulfill their
objectives. The hydropower produced by dams is not sustainable and dams
involve multiple hidden costs. At the moment, Thailand has a 40%
oversupply of electricity. This has arisen from poorly drawn-up
national power development plans. This poor planning has resulted in
the Thai public having to pay higher electricity costs. The planned
Salween dam projects involve multiple risks, including being situated
in an earthquake-zone, and the costs of these risks will have to be
borne by the Thai public. The Salween dams will destroy one of the
richest river ecosystems in Southeast Asia and the world, with a wealth
of biodiversity. The impacts will be felt not only by the peoples
living along the river and its tributaries, but by the entire
population of the region. They will further worsen the environmental
crisis in the region, including climate change. The flooding will
divide the forests on Thailand’s western border, which are the richest
forest areas in Southeast Asia. The Salween dams are large-scale
projects which will have major impacts on communities in the area.
Whether the dams are built in Shan State or on the Thai-Burma border,
they will involve human rights violations. Up until now, Thai
politicians, EGAT and private companies have claimed that the Salween
River Basin is not populated, or only has minority groups living there,
but in fact over 10 million people of 13 different ethnicities are
living in the Salween Basin, and relying on the natural resources in
the area. There is rich social and cultural diversity among these
people. Their human rights must be respected. Until now, not only have
the local people not been informed of the plans to build the dams, but
their rights have been violated. Particularly in the Ta Sang dam area,
the local villagers have already been forcibly relocated, and have been
raped and killed. EGAT and private companies, by joining in the
implementation of these projects, are making Thai people complicit in
these human rights abuses. This will create a negative image for
Thailand in the eyes of the world, both in the short and the long term.
It is well-known that the peoples who live in the Salween Basin are
currently struggling against the Burmese dictatorship for their rights.
Thailand is already burdened with the effects of the ongoing civil war.
If the Salween dams are built, there will be increased human rights
violations, and the affected people will surely flee to Thailand, which
will create an even greater burden for Thailand. It will also be a
threat to national security. Therefore, we the undersigned
organizations, make the following demands: We appeal to the Thai Senate
Foreign Affairs Committee to oppose the Thai government, EGAT, Thai and
international dam-building companies, foreign governments and
International Financial Institutions, and prevent them from supporting
the Salween Dam projects in any way, until there is democracy in Burma
and the rights of the local people are respected. The Thai government,
EGAT and MDX must immediately stop their involvement in these projects.
We recognize the importance of electricity, but since there has been no
proper needs assessment for this project, and dams are not the best
means to fulfil electricity needs, we urge you to pressure the Thai
government to review the national power policy in order that it is not
used as an excuse to proceed with these projects, and in order to
prevent Thai society from shouldering added burdens including higher
electricity costs and multiple risks to national security. The Thai
government must explore other more suitable alternatives in order to
ensure sustainable power management, not just take advantage of the
lack of democracy in Burma to push through this project.

In solidarity,
69 organizations from Thai and Burma:

Asian Forum For Human Rights and
Development
Assembly of The Poors Friends Without Borders
MAP Foundation for Heath and Knowledge of ethnic labour
Thai Action Commitee For Democracy in Burma
Thai Research Burma Issue
Southeast Asia Rivers Network
Students Federation of Thailand
The Committee of Natural and Environmental Conservation Wildlife Fund
Thailand All Burma Students’
League Altsean Burma
All Arakan Students’ and Youth Congress
All Burmese Students’ Democratic Front
All Kachin Students and Youth Union
Anti-Salween Dam Network Group
Arakan Liberation Party
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
Burma Lawyers’ Council
Democratic Party for a New Society
Ethnic Cooperation on Human Rights and the Environment
Human Rights Documentation Unit
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
Images Asia – Environment Desk
Justice of Human Rights for Burma (Japan Chapter)
Karen Environmental and Social Action Network
Karen Nature Conservation Group
Karen Student Network Group
Karen Youth Organisation
Karenni Evergreen
Karenni Farmers’ Union
Karenni Human Rights Education Team
Karenni Information Network Group
Karenni Literacy Committee
Karenni National Youth Organisation
Karenni Parliament Union
Karenni Social Welfare Committee
Karenni Students’ Union
Karenni Teachers’ Union
Karenni National Women’s Organisation
Lahu National Development Organisation
Mon Women’s Rights Organisation
Mon Youth Progressive Organisation
National League for Democracy (Liberated Area)
National Council of the Union of Burma (comprising 37 organisations)
National Democratic Front (comprising 9 ethnic organisations)
Network for Democracy and Development
Palaung Youth Network Group
Pa-O Youth Organisation
People’s Liberation Front
Salween Watch
Shan Democratic Union
Shan State Organisation
Shan Youth Network Group
Shan Youth Power Media Group
Students’ and Youth Congress of Burma
Tai Literature and Culture Society
United Nationalities League for Democracy (Liberated Area)
Wa National Organisation Women’s League of Burma (comprising 11 organisations)
All Burma Democratic
Lushai Women’s Organisation
Burmese Women’s Union
Chin Women’s Organisation
Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand
Karen Women’s Organisation
Lahu Women’s Organisation
Pa-O Women’s Union
Rakhine Women’s Union
Shan Women’s Action Network
Tavoyan Women’s Union
Women’s Rights and Welfare Association of Burma