Dam busters pressure Abhisit

Bangkok Post
http://www.bangkokpost.com

By: APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
Published: 19/06/2009

Fears among countries of the Mekong River lower basin about excessive dam building in China are expected to be tabled for talks at the Southeast Asian summit later this year, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says. Environmentalists from the Save the Mekong Coalition yesterday submitted a petition calling on the government to take steps to protect the international river.

The coalition comprises members from Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.

''We will try to put the Mekong issue on to the Asean forum's agenda,'' Mr Abhisit said. ''We also want to support the people's movement to protect the river. The power from the river is one option for electricity generation. But there are still many options that we would consider for energy generation.''

Thailand will host the summit between Asean and its counterparts including China in October in Phuket.

The coalition was set up last year in a bid to protect the river. It closely watches China's plan to build at least 11 hydroelectric dams in the upper part of the river.

The group expressed concerns that the dams would destroy ecological systems and threaten the traditional way of life of people who rely on the river fisheries.

Premrudee Daoroung, coordinator of Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance, welcomed the prime minister's response, saying it was a good sign the government would take the issue into the Asean agenda.

''Many agencies dealing with the Mekong issues have proved that they failed to cope with the problem,'' Ms Premrudee said. ''I do believe that the discussion under the Asean framework could produce more effectiveness.''

Ms Premrudee also urged all governments sharing the river to stop the construction of dams in China from damaging their countries.

Countries in the lower Mekong basin include Thailand, Laos, Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Chhith Sam Ath, executive director of the NGO Forum on Cambodia, said the Mekong was the largest source of fishery activities that provided food for 60 million people.

He said the construction of dams would block at least 70% of commercial fishing activities.

''We are very concerned about the construction of the 11 dams in the river,'' he said. ''We would like Prime Minister Abhisit to keep the Mekong River free flowing.''The group has received more than 16,380 signatures for the river protection petition after launching a campaign to save the river from dam construction a few months ago on its website.