Burma, China to Develop Hydropower Projects in Wa and Mongla Areas

Shan Herald Agency for News

A report on 8 February in http://news.sohu.com says Burma in collaboration with two Chinese firms is planning to develop seven dams in the Wa and Mongla areas, both of which have been up in arms against Naypyitaw’s plan to transform all the armed groups that have ceasefire agreements into Burmese Army run militia forces.

According to the translated report, the Yunnan Power Grid Corporation and the State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC) Huajing Power Holdings had completed the plan in 2008 and submitted it to the Burma’s Ministry of Electric Power-1 in the same year. “In May and December of 2009, the Ministry confirmed the river planning report. Up to now, the project pre-feasibility study has been completed, and the investigation work outside the Nam Hka River hydropower stations will be launched,” reads the report.

The formation stage developments of hydropower projects will be in:
Nam Hka (also written Nam Kha) River, a tributary of the Nu-Salween River, that flows through the Wa capital Panghsang-    1 dam project
Nam Lwi (also written Nam Lwe) River, a tributary of the Mekong, that roughly serves as the boundary of areas under the control of the Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) –    6 dam cascade projects
Wang Wen, Deputy General Manager of YPGC and Hu Gang, Director of the SDIC Huajiang Power Holdings, had already signed an agreement on 4 February for the implementation of the projects, according to the report.

“This could be the SPDC’s scheme to borrow Chinese hands to eliminate us,” said a source close to the Mongla leadership. “The generals know it is easier for us to oppose them than oppose the Chinese.”

Maj Gen Kyaw Phyoe, Commander of the Kengtung-based Triangle Region Command, opposite Chiangrai, reportedly told a meeting that was held last month, following the assassination of Mongla’s # 6 leader, that the ceasefire groups could be destroyed without the Burma Army having to fight

This post is in: Business and Human Rights, Environmental and Economic Justice