Petition to China from 83 organizations from Thailand/Burma on Upper Salween Dam

Southeast Asia Rivers Network78 Moo 10Tambol Suthep, MuangChiang Mai 50200Tel: 053 278 334Fax: 053 283 609 16 December 2003 The AmbassadorThe Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand57 Ratchadaphisek RoadDindaeng Bangkok10310 Your Excellency, We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to express our concerns about the plans to develop large hydropower projects on the Nu/Salween River in China. We have learned that Chinese authorities plan to approve the construction of a major dam at Liuku within this month, without consultation with downstream countries and communities. We understand that there are further plans to build a total of thirteen large dams on the mainstream Nu/Salween. The Nu/Salween, the last free-flowing international river in the region, is shared by three countries. Large numbers of peoples of many different ethnicities depend on the river for their livelihood. Nutrients carried down the river are a vital resource for downstream fisheries, and for fertilizing large areas of cultivated land. Forests and wetlands along the entire river, including the UNESCO World Heritage site in Yunnan, are home to many diverse species of wildlife and contain areas of great natural beauty. The peoples and the natural environment in the Nu/Salween River Basin will be drastically impacted by any major hydropower development undertaken by China on the river. Therefore, we request the Chinese government to suspend the project immediately. The peoples in the Nu/Salween River Basin should be provided with timely and complete information about the planned developments and be entitled to participate in the decision-making process. Before making decisions on the dam projects, there should be consensus among the riparian countries on the terms of environmental and social impact assessments, on mitigation measures, water management regimes, and reparation or compensation for negative downstream impacts. Environmental and social impact assessments should be comprehensive, including meaningful public participation, and should be carried out according to international standards. Furthermore, they should cover the impacts in the entire watershed, and not be limited to areas in China alone. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely yours, Chainarong SretthachauSoutheast Asia Rivers Network, Thailand This letter is also endorsed by the following 82 organizations All Burma Students' Democratic FrontAlternative Energy Project for Sustainability, ThailandAltsean-BurmaArakan Youth Network groupAssembly of the Poor, ThailandBuntad Ranges Community Empowerment Project, ThailandBurma Today News and MediaCampaign for Media Reform, ThailandCampaign for Popular Democracy, ThailandCommunity Forest Support Group, ThailandCommunity Network for Saving River Basins in Maehongson, ThailandCommunity University, ThailandCoordinating Committee of Human Rights Organization of ThailandConcerned Individuals of BurmaCostal Zone Management through Community Organization and Network in Southern ThailandDictator WatchEarthRights InternationalFriends of People, ThailandFriends Without BordersImages AsiaKachin State National Congress for DemocracyKaren Environmental and Social Action NetworkKaren Studies and Development Center, ThailandKaren Rivers WatchKarenni EvergreenKarenni Information Network GroupKarenni National Women OrganizationKarenni Social Welfare CommitteeKarenni Refugee CommitteeKarenni Student UnionKarenni Teacher UnionLahu National Development OrganizationMetta Dhammaraksa FoundationMon Unity LeagueNationalities Youth Development ProgramNgwetaung Nature NetworkNGO Coordinating Committee on Rural Development (NGO-CORD North), ThailandNGO Coordinating Committee on Rural Development (NGO-CORD South), ThailandNGOs Network on Costal Resources Management in Southern ThailandNorthern Farmers Federation, ThailandNorthern Development Foundation, ThailandPeace and Human Rights Resource Center, ThailandPeople's Defense ForcePeople's Liberation Front (Burma)Project for Recovery of Life and Culture, ThailandProject for River and Community, ThailandSalween WatchSalween News NetworkSekhiyadhamma GroupSeub Nakhasathien FoundationShan Democratic UnionShan Human Rights FoundationShan State OrganizationShan Youth Power MediaShan Youth Network GroupStudent and Youth Congress of BurmaStudents Federation of ThailandThai Action Committee for Democracy in BurmaThai Volunteer ServiceThe Women's League of Burma comprising11 organizations:Burmese Women's UnionKachin Women's Association/ThailandKaren Women's OrganizationKuki Women's Human Rights OrganizationLahu Women's OrganizationPalaung Women's OrganizationPa-O Women's UnionRakhine Women's UnionShan Women's Action NetworkTavoy Women's UnionWomen's Rights and Welfare Association of BurmaUnited Nationalities Youth League comprising:All Arakan Students and Youth CongressAll Kachin Students and Youth UnionChin Student UnionKaren Youth OrganizationKarenni National Youth OrganizationKayan New Generation YouthLahu Democratic Front – YouthMon Unity League – YouthPa O Youth OrganizationPalaung Youth Network GroupWildlife Fund ThailandYouth Rivers Network, ThailandYouth Training Program for Social Development, Thailand CC: Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Kingdom of Thailand