Upper House MP J Yaw Wu from the National Unity Party representing Kachin State Consitiuency-1revealed he refused to accept the bribe from the Chinese Power Investment (CPI) Compnay  in order to keep silent about the Myitsone Dam Project, at a press conference at Real Link Hotel in Yankin Township in Yangon on January 26.

On September 23, 2011, MP J Yaw Wu remonstrated against the Myitsone Dam project as a MP from the constituency-12 in Kachin State in the time of the Thein Sein Administration.

He sent the remonstration letter to former President Thein Sein via Upper House Speaker Khin Aung Myint.

He was re-elected Upper House MP of the Kachin State Constituency-1 in the 2015 General Election.

“I don’t remember the date. In around December 2011, they (CPI) met with me. The delegation included the GM and the female secretary. The GM is a female. The GM herself can speak Myanmar language. The GM said the company paid too much money to the heads of the State. But she did not talk to me like so. First she asked my bank accounts. But I have no bank account. They said they want to put money into the bank account. They asked me to extend a helping hand. They said they would start lobbying to resume the Myitsone dam project. They urged me to keep silent about the Myitsone Dam project. They said I can use this money to carry out development tasks, build roads and bridges and provide assistance to the IDPs. I drove off them as they were paying bribes to me,” he said.

My desire is similar to the statement issued by three Kachin parties. I have a sense of oneness with the people. We want the total shutdown of dam project, he added.

If the government resumes the project, I will carry out the submission of  proposal and report  and raise the question at parliament. The National Unity Party will not accept the situation that may threaten and undermine the country, he said. 

Three Kachin parties issued a statement on January 14, calling for the total shutdown of Myitsone Project. The MP said he would make cooperation with Kachin parties, he continued.

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar issued a statement on January 13, saying that Myanmar’s economic and social development and the building of China-Myanmar Economic Corridor require sufficient electricity supply. To this end, China and Myanmar are in close consultation on the issue of Myitsone hydropower project to find out a proper solution acceptable to both sides as soon as possible. In this connection, support from the people of Kachin State would be highly valued.