Press release by the Kayan Women’s Union: New hydropower dam for Burma’s military capital

Over 3,500 people, including many ethnic Kayan, will be displaced by a new
dam being built in the Pyinmana Hills that will boost power to Burma’s
military leaders.

“Drowning the Green Ghosts of Kayanland,” a new report launched today by the
Kayan Women’s Union reveals how the Upper Paunglaung Dam, being built with
Chinese investment,  and slated for completion in December 2009, will flood
a fertile valley 26 miles east of Burma’s new capital Naypyidaw.

The 99-meter Upper Paunglaung Dam will produce 140 megawatts of electricity
and store water to increase the generating capacity of the Lower Paunglaung
Dam, completed in March 2005, which currently powers Naypyidaw.

Burma Army troop deployment to provide security for the dam construction has
caused increased forced labour and other abuses for local villagers, in
direct contravention of the ceasefire agreement between the Kayan New Land
Party (KNLP) and the Burmese military regime.

The KNLP was originally formed in 1964 to protest another dam, Burma’s first
major hydropower project, the Mobye Dam in Karenni State, which flooded 114
villages, eventually driving many Kayan, including “long-necked” Padaung, to
become refugees in Thailand.

“Forty years ago, we Kayan people lost our sacred lands to provide
electricity to Rangoon. Now again the dwelling places of our guardian
spirits will be submerged to power Naypyidaw,” said Mu Kayan of the Kayan
Women’s Union.

The Upper Paunglaung Dam, being built by the Yunnan Machinery and Export Co.
Ltd (YMEC), is one of 24 major hydropower dams being planned or built by
Chinese companies in Burma.

The full report can be viewed at [url=http://www.salweenwatch.org]http://www.salweenwatch.org[/url]
For more information please contact
Contact person: Aung Ngyeh
Phone: +66 84 363 6603
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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