(November 1, 1997) As part of its financial rescue package for Thailand’s economy, the International Monetary Fund recently advised the Thai government to end subsidization and accelerate privatization of its ailing financial institutions and state enterprises.

(October 2, 1997) The World Bank is expected to vote this month whether or not to support resettlement and conservation in the Nam Theun 2 watershed in Lao PDR.

(September 13, 1997) When 15 leaders of the 9,500 indigenous communities affected by Malaysia’s Bakun Dam received their compensation last month, they sent the cheques back to the government. One said he received a token Bt3.3, which made the cost of issuing the cheque higher than the compensated amount. No wonder opposition to Southeast Asia’s largest dam project continues despite the fact work has already begun.

(September 2, 1997) Laos is dreaming of a huge dam that will finance development of its poor corner of Southeast Asia. But Nam Theun 2 may turn out to be a nightmare for Laotian tribal people, who will be forced to leave their homes. It could mean extinction for rare species like the Vu Quang ox, only discovered in this decade, the Indochinese water pig and the white winged duck.

(August 12, 1997) Reply letter from Executive Director representing Canada on ADB’s Board of Directors regarding Canadian development assistance on hydropower dams along the Mekong River in China.

(August 6, 1997) To the oil and mining companies, repressive governments and banks we list among the world’s exploiters, we must add another sector – conservationists. Unaccountable, opaque and pursuing a model of protection that is both repressive and outmoded, some of the world’s biggest conservation organisations are becoming indistinguishable from other neo-colonial corsairs.

(July 14, 1997) Laos is determined to go ahead with the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric dam and urged the international community to support the $1.5 billion project.

(July 8, 1997) The Laotian Government is confident the World Bank will agree to its request for a loan for the construction of its controversial Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric dam project to generate electricity for sale to Thailand.

(June 14, 1997) Lao officials fear yet more delays in its Nam Theun 2 dam project in what they say is a move by the World Bank to develop a greener image for itself.

(June 14, 1997) A joint committee meeting of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) scheduled for today and tomorrow has been postponed indefinitely due to the absence of the Cambodian delegates, a senior MRC official said yesterday.

(June 3, 1997) The World Bank’s Executive Directors have quietly approved a new guarantee mechanism to protect commercial lenders that make joint investments with governments in some of the world’s poorest countries. The new guarantee mechanism is unchartered territory for the World Bank. It is designed to make large power and infrastructure projects attractive to commercial lenders in high-risk countries with governments that are considered uncreditworthy.