February 20, 2003

The choice dam site of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand in Karen State will still inundate parts of Karenni and Shan states upstream, according to an informed source from Thailand-based environmental group today.

“The back flood from Weigyi, between Thailand’s Maehongson Province and Burma’s Karen State, will go as far as 380-400 km to the north,” said the source, reporting on the
presentation given to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 12 February, by EGAT governor, Sitthiporn Rattanopas.

Weigyi “Great Whirlpool”, after completion, will be 168 meters high, with a generating capacity of 4,540 MW at an estimated cost of US$6 billion. Terra (Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance) meanwhile says the reservoir, with a normal high water level of 220 meters will be inundating 15,000 ‚Äì 20,000 acres of land that will displace thousands of people including residents of Bawlake and Hpahsawng in Karenni, a.k.a Kayah
State.

The extent of the damage, however, remains to be investigated, though the EGAT paper promises probable destruction of thousands of acres of forest areas on both sides of the Salween.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, has already confirmed since Burma’s Independence Day, Jan. 4, that it is firmly against foreign investments until substantive talks between the Opposition and military rulers are in place.

Shans, Karens and Karennis have also voiced their condemnations on the dam projects since 1993. The Weigyi dam nonetheless still requires official approval from Rangoon, that had already signed an agreement with Thai-based MDX Group last December to construct a 3,300 megawatt dam at Shan State’s Tasarng, 400 km upstream.