IC submits Myitsone dam report to president, but no reply comes out from govt

IC submits Myitsone dam report to president, but no reply comes out from govt
Published 8 July 2019
Tun Lin Aung (Myitkyina)

Translated by Paing Paing

A report on multi-billion dollar Myitsone dam submitted to the president by the Investigation Committee of Myitsone Dam has been long over one year, but no reply as of yet from the government, said Dr. Khet Aung, Kachin Chief Minister, who is also a member of the Investigation Committee of Myitsone Dam.

 “We have meetings every two months to discuss our proposals. Those discussions eventually are submitted to the president.  Although the report was sent one year ago, there has not been any response. The Kachin State is unauthorized to decide it; instead the Union government will have to do it. Ultimately the verdict over the area will depend upon the president, not the local administration,” said Dr. Khet Aung.

The commission was established on August 12, 2016 and is led by U T Khun Myat, Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House), and this includes Dr. Khet Aung, Kachin Chief Minister and legal expert Daw Mayri Maynan.

An eleven-member delegation led by Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr. Hong Liang and Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Wang Yu spoke about their concerns regarding the project, expressed desire to resume the suspended Myitsone dam project and would like the Union government to make negotiation after seeking suggestions on the public solution during their visit to Kachin State on June 3 in 2016.  

Lieu Zan, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs from the Republic of China, who also accompanied the trip, emphasized three points in order to ensure the success of the Myintsone dam project: (1) the dam project can be cancelled but the government must give a compensatory payment of US$ 800 million for the abolition of the dam project, (2) if the dam project is allowed to resume, the government will receive US$ 500 million of revenues every year and (3)   failure to comply to the aforementioned suggestions will ultimately lead to a plan in which interests in loans [ total amount of US$ 50 million] will be paid by Myanmar government.