ON THE SALWEEN DAM PROJECT

[dep@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

STATEMENT OF GREEN NOVEMBER 32 
                        ON THE SALWEEN DAM PROJECT
The Green November 32 is an organisation in conjunction with the ethnic
groups and pro-democracy organisations to carry out the tasks for human
rights issues and protecting of environmental affairs for future Green
Burma since 1989. 
There is a very clear view for the outside world that the SLORC or SPDC,
the destructive element and oppressor on the way to democracy, commits
unlimited human rights abuses inside Burma and sells Burma's natural
resources to strengthen their power, to raise up their wealth, and to
down-fall the nation in different ways. They leave Burma behind with severe
economic crises and lack of health and educational developments. 
Construction of natural gas pipeline, gearing up the production of seafood,
spreading out the unlawful opium plantation and wood production in a low
price for the neighbouring countries are risen into view as concrete
evidences. They always hide the truth and try to tell the world their
tricky stories. But, the picture of Burma is coloured by the unemployed
illegal immigrants, displaced persons and the people who are facing the
problems of basic needs. They continuously flee from Burma and enter the
neighbouring countries, especially into Thailand. The problems in Thailand,
i.e. raising up the number of unemployed, dropping down the labour wages,
escalating the number of HIV/AIDS patients, crimes, and prostitutes, are
the bad consequences of unstable Burma. Under these circumstances, the
SLORC or SPDC, Thailand and Japan try to implement the tasks of and
agreement on the Salween Dam construction project and water diversion for
the two major dams in Thailand from the water of Salween River. By raising
up the Nant Tant Saing river water level, the water from the Salween River
will flow into Mae Nam Kok and Mae Nam Paing rivers in Chiang Mai and
Chiangrai provinces. From that stage, the water that is diverted from the
Salween River will fill the two major dams that are threatened by the water
shortage and the Chaophara River. For the Salween Dam and Salween water
diversion, the SLORC or SPDC forcibly relocated over 300,000 Shans as the
first step. From the year 2010, Thailand will get 1500 MW per year
according to the agreement with the SLORC in August 1997. From this US $
(4-7) billion  Salween Dam project, supported by the Japanese Electric
Power Development Co., will produce 3700 MW per year.
The villages, fertile lands, and forests from the southern area of the Shan
State, Karenni, Karen and Mon lands will be destroyed and the people from
those areas will get spreading of diseases, losing fish culture and rare
species of wild animals and expending of sea water lands. Furthermore, they
will suffer the bad consequences of weather changing and earthquake
frequently. Thailand will also get those results together with the burden
of displaced persons and unemployed. Due to these bad consequences, ethnic
groups resided in that area should reject these projects.

Therefore, we, the GN 32, absolutely oppose those who are trying to build
the Salween Dam and to plan the Salween River water diversion projects. And
we also vow to cooperate with the governments, pro-democracy organisations,
ethnic groups, environmental and human rights organisations, and
international communities who oppose the Salween Dam project.

Board of Directors
Green November 32
Date: 25 February, 1999