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SALWEEN RIVER |
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Salween is the only major river that remains free-flowing in Southeast Asia. It originates in the Tibetan highlands, flows through China’s Yunnan province into Shan and Kayah states in Burma, before entering Thailand at Mae Sariang district, Mae Hong Son province. Forming the border between Thailand and Burma, the Salween River runs for 127 kilometres before re-entering Burma at Sob Moei and emptying into the Andaman Sea at Mawlamyine. With a total length of 2,820 kilometres, the Salween is the world’s 26th longest river and its river basin covers a total area of 324,000 square kilometres. |
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There are various ethnic groups who are dependent on the Salween River living along the river’s banks in China, Burma and Thailand. These people include the Nu, Lisu, Wa, Karen, Tai, Karenni and Mon. The river which has long been the source of endless benefits to local people is now being targeted by dam developers who seek to “profit” from this river.
Since the early 1980s, the Thai and Burmese governments have been engaged in various negotiations to build large dams on the lower reaches of Salween; and in 2004 they agreed to establish a joint venture to proceed with five hydroelectric projects, of which four would be located on the Salween. The Thai government also plans to construct more dams along the tributaries of the Salween to divert water from the Salween to the Bhumipol reservoir in northern Thailand.
In the upper reaches of the Salween, where the river is know as Nujiang, the Chinese government plans to build a cascade of 13 dams. Sections of the Nu River form part of the Three Parallel Rivers World Heritage Site, an area renowned for its rich biodiversity and home to numerous indigenous groups. Although Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao suspended the Nu River projects in early 2004, media reports indicate that a scaled-down version including four dams may proceed; and that preliminary construction and exploration activities have already begun around these dam sites.[ map ]
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| MEDIA |
Thailand and Myanmar at odds over Salween dams
Toward Freedom, 13 December 2006
Burma energy deals sought
Bangkok Post, 23 November 2006
Burma to lose out in Thai energy industry shake-up
The Irrawaddy, 10 November 2006
Minister criticizes ‘predatory development” of Nu river
Interfax, 26 October 2006
New energy minister thumbs down projects
Reuters, 20 October 2006
Development plan threatens heritage area
Sydney Morning Herald, 19 October 2006
UN warning could see dams scrapped
South China Morning Post, 18 October 2006
Insist on impact assessments
Bangkok Post, 15 October 2006
Dams on Salween – test for Burmese, Thai juntas
IPS, 29 September 2006
Dam the Salween, dam its people
Asia Times Online, 15 September 2006
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| BRIEFINGS/ ARTICLES |
Chronology of Salween dam plans (Thailand and Burma)
Complied by TERRA, November 2006.
Dams as Ethnic Cleansing: The Burmese Junta’s War Against the Karenni Ethnic People
By Noel Rajesh, Watershed Vol. 11 No. 2 November 2005 – June 2006.
Voices from the Nu River: ‘Nobody has told us anything’
By Wang Yong Chen, Watershed Vol. 11 No. 2 November 2005 – June 2006.
The Salween Water Diversion Project
Briefing paper prepared by TERRA, September 2005.
Egos and Scams: EGAT and the Salween Dams
By Luntharimar Longcharoen, Watershed Vol. 9 No. 2 November 2003 – February 2004.
Thailand’s Salween Dams to Fuel Southeast Asian Regional Power Grid at the Cost to Ethnic Communities, Forests and Rivers
By Noel Rajesh, Watershed Vol. 9 No. 1 July – October 2003.
Salween Hydropower Project (Thai–Burma border)
Briefing paper prepared by Foundation for Ecological Recovery, June 2003.
Engineering Profits: The MDX Group of Companies
By Chris Adams, Watershed, Vol. 7 No. 2 November 2001 – February 2002
A Dam for Burma’s Generals
Watershed, Vol. 5 No. 2 November 1999 – February 2000
“The Salween – My River, My Natural Belonging”
Watershed, Vol. 4 No. 2 November 1998 – February 1999
Hydroelectric and Trans-Basin Water Diversion Projects in the Salween River Basin: Main Concerns Regarding the Salween Basin Projects
Complied by TERRA, 25 July 1997
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| PHOTOS |
• Nu River
• Salween River
• Farming
• Fishing |
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| LINKS |
• Salween Watch
• Southeast Asia Rivers Network (SEARIN)
• Salween News Network (SNN)
• Three Gorges Probe
• EarthRights International |
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ÁÙŹԸԿ×鹿٪ÕÇÔµáÅиÃÃÁªÒµÔ : 409 «ÍÂâÃËÔµÊØ¢ (ÃѪ´ÒÀÔàÉ¡ «Í 14) ¶¹¹»ÃЪÒÃÒÉ®ÃìºÓà¾ç ࢵËéÇ¢ÇÒ§ ¡ÃØ§à·¾Ï 10320
Foundation for Ecological Recovery : 409 Soi Rohitsuk (Ratchadapisek Soi 14) Pracharajbampen Road Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10320 THAILAND.
Tel: (66) 02 691 0718-20 Fax: (66) 02 691 0714 |
| Email: fer@terraper.org --Map-- |
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