MYITKYINA---The locals from Kachin State urged the forthcoming government to completely suspend the Myitkyina dam project, according to the locals.
The youths carried out the cleaning activities at the old Tanphe village in Myitkyina Township yesterday to mark the 9th Anniversary of Myitsone dam suspension.
“We cleaned the village to mark the 9th Anniversary of Myitsone dam suspension. The ex-government led by President Thein Sein suspended the Myitsone dam project. Later, the incumbent government led by the ruling National League for Democracy(NLD) maintained the project suspension. We want to get the government which will listen to the public voice because the locals and the entire people wanted to completely stop the myitsone dam project,” said preacher Tuu Khaung who lived in old Tanphe village for over 40 years.
“We need not to mistake casting votes. We want the government which desires to completely suspend the Myitsone dam project. If we will mistake the casting vote, we must suffer a five-year term government. If we were to die, our generation must be against the Myitsone dam project. The locals who had relocated to Aung Myin The villagers from old Tanphe village earned their living as the seller and other carriers. Most villagers worked at the old Tanphe village. If the Myitsone dam project is suspended completely, all locals will be convenient,” said Daw Lu Yar, activist of Myitsone dam suspension.
The President’s Office announced the formation of the investigation commission for the Myitsone dam project on August 12 of 2016. T Khun Myat, the Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of parliament, served as Chairman of the commission, while Dr Khet Aung, the Chief Minister of Kachin State, and legal expert May Yi May served as members of the commission.
A 12-member investigation commission visited Myitkyina Township from September 15 to 18th in 2016 aiming to conduct a field survey at the Myitsone dam project.
An 11-member Chinese delegation comprising Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Hong Liang and Consul General Wang Yu visited Kachin State on June 3rd of 2016.
During their visit, the Chinese officials said they wanted to resume the Myitsone dam project that they wanted the Union Government to seek suggestions from the local people to help to negotiate its resumption and that they would make contacts to meet with local people.
Lieu Zan, the Director-General of China’s International Business Department, had offered three options for the future of the dam project:
(1) The dam project can be cancelled if the Myanmar government pays US$ 800 million in compensation
(2) The project can be completed, and the government will receive $500 million in tax or
(3) The project can remain suspended, and the government will have to pay $ 50 million in interest on behalf of Chinese Companies.
Local residents who were displaced from five villages by the dam project held a series of meetings where they decided to oppose the dam project under any future government in Myanmar.
They held a press conference on September 9th of 2016, where they issued a statement saying that Myitsone was the historic homeland of Kachin people and that they would all band together to stop the Myitsone dam project. They also pledged to return to their villages in and around the dam project area. They said any projects that ignore the wishes of local people and that lack transparency would not be tolerated.
There are 47 villages, 1,904 households and a total of 10,505 people will be relocated to new places due to the Myitsone dam project.
At present, Myitsone (Malizut), Tangphe, Shwepar, Kadanpar, Dhunban and Laphe villages are being relocated to Aungmyintha and Maliyan villages.
The Myitsone dam project was suspended on September 30th of 2011, by ex-president Thein Sein.
The incumbent government cannot terminate the contract of the Myitsone dam project signed with China.
