Exiled Kachins urge China to stop Irrawaddy Myitsone dam project

Ethnic Kachin people in the United Kingdom urged the Chinese government to withdraw their investments in the Irrawaddy Myitsone Dam project, which is being constructed by Chinese companies operating in Kachin State, because it is creating more human rights abuses.

The UK Kachin community made their request in a letter sent January 19th, to Madam Fu Ying, the Chinese Ambassador to London.

011310-irrawaddy-dam

In it they asked the Chinese state-owned China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) halt dam construction in Kachin State, because it is being done against the will of the local people and it will cause harm to the environment.

“If we destroyed China’s Great Wall, China will be really angry. It is the same situation. We don’t want them to destroy our natural heritage,” Hkanhpa Tu, the joint secretary of UK-based Kachin National Organization (KNO) told the Kachin News Group.

The KNO’s appeal letter pointed out the negative impact on the environment, cultural heritage, livelihood, and safety of the local people by the hydro power projects.

It argued that the project only benefits the military junta, but, the local Kachin people will suffer hardship.

“It is well-documented that development projects in Burma are accompanied by increased militarization and associated abuses, including forced labor and rape,” said the KNO’s statement.

The KNO joint secretary added, “China and the Burmese government should understand this is our homeland, so they should not go ahead with the project against with our wishes. They should respect the autonomy of the Kachin people”.

The open letter also included a letter from Kachin elders and leaders in different areas of Kachin State and Kachin Independent Organization (KIO) Chairman, Lanyaw Zawng Hra, who also urged the Burmese junta to halt the project.

Although, the Kachin representatives urged the country’s military leader Senior General Than Shwe to act quickly to halt the construction, he has failed to do so.

The official opening ceremony for the dam construction phase was held December 21, 2009, by officials of the military, CPI and Asia World Company.

The KNO and anti-dam activists argue the construction will cause the immediate relocation of 15,000 people and millions of people will be at risk from flooding if the dam collapsed.

“We should stop this construction otherwise we will be going to face countless problems,” said Awng Wa, chairman of Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG), based on the China-Burma border.

He said, the construction, being done by Asia World Company and CPI, who are using tens of thousands of Chinese laborers, will create safety issues for kachin women and social problems.

“Hundreds of Chinese workers have already arrived in the Myitsone dam site. Chinese workers have money, so they can do what they want and attract local Kachin women for their sexual pleasure. It will create social problems among local Kachin communities,” added the KDNG Chairman.

“All people should involve themselves in this movement to stop the construction, because we will face, environmental, social, economic and political problems because of this business,” he added.

KNO is planning to protest the dam construction in front of the Burmese Embassies in the UK, Japan, Australia and USA on 5th February, which marks the 49th Kachin Revolution Day, commemorating the establishment of the Kachin Independent Army (KIA).

Protests are also planned in India, Malaysia and Sweden.

Comments

Add New

Wadi Langai [Shut Jaw] - praying vs. doing something

|118.172.54.xxx |2010-01-29 15:28:54

http://www.irrawaddy.org/bur/index.php/news/1-news/2448-2010-01-19-11-41-43

Who is praying to
whom and for whom? Praying is good and nice but someone has got to stand up and speak up about the
real situation. Everybody is afraid of the abuse of the military regime. The religious leaders
should do something about it. Since the university students can not gather and demonstrate.

The
religious leaders from Christians, Bishop Francis Daw Tang from Catholic Diocese Myitkyina, Mr.
Saboi Jum from Baptist Church, Mr. _____ from different denominations, Anglican, AG (Assembly of
God), Seventh day Adventist and many others, they should teach their followers and faithfuls to get
involve in the real situation which is the dam building plan and they should demonstrate it. The
religious leaders are very good at gathering people in the churches and throw celebrations,
parties.

Why not they gather the church members or faithfuls to fight against the
"god-dam" dam building.???? Why don't they condemn??

Let's be praxis!!!

Since the
leaders are afraid to speak up against the military regime, how can the followers learn how not to
be afraid of the military regime??? Off course, it's understandable the leaders are also human being
and afraid of persecution. BUT, they have got everything food, luxury, etc.. and full support from
their followers.

The role of the leader is to lead and guide the followers to a better deeds,
courses, and the best course we have been taught since we were young "heaven". Since the
leaders are not showing the best and righteous way to solve the real problems, the followers are
just like blind person.

Why can't Christians be united, Catholics vs. Baptists Vs. AG Vs. 7th
days Vs. small Christian denominations? They say it's bcoz of government conspiracy. They say it's
bcoz of our differences. They say it's bcoz we are too old to be changed. They say it's bcoz
Catholics are too naive [or let do what they want to do] about other denominations. They say it's
bcoz Baptists claim that only Baptists must be the ones to lead Kachin Nation. They says it's bcoz
we are all too bcozs.

I am just pinpointing the reasons given by many people not uniting
Christians.

From my opinion, it's bcoz the leaders are too reluctant and selfish to be changed.
They just want to grow populations in their communities. They do not think how to become one again.
They are just giving reasons.

Is it enough just to pray and do nothing? Can you pray 24 hours
without eating? How long can this 100+ people take turn and pray around the clock while the DAM
construction is being done around the seconds. I am not saying praying is bad. I am just saying
let's do something about other than praying. The church leaders should get together and do something
about it. If they don't, they are just bluffing every Sunday in front of their church members about
bible verses they like to preach, sometimes they don't even really know the theological meaning of
the bible verses.

The Catholic church has been always the fighter for the justice. But how can
they attain the justice without fighting? the Bishop must do something about it. The Saboi Jum has
been trying for peace by negotiation but in fact what he has been doing is allow military government
to do what they want on Kachin people.

I am mentioning only these two leaders bcoz the majority
of Christian populations are from these two shepherds. So please it's time for Bishop Francis Daw
Tang [learn catholic social teaching] and other Christian denomination leaders to do something about
the Myitson Dam construction.

Correct me if Wrong.
0 bit 1 byte

Reply | Quote

Kachin Cowboy - Sinners vs Preachers vs Leaders

|118.172.0.xxx |2010-02-02 09:01:43

Today Kachin leaders are too afraid to speak up and be persecuted. The Christian leaders are only
worry about preaching and the way to the Kingdom of God. But they ignore the basic needs and the
suffering of Kachin people. They are more concern about the life after death. ignorant and failing
to do is SIN. They all are sinners.
Therefore, the church leaders can not be regarded as the
leaders, they are rather the preachers who is committing sins again and again and again.... correct
me if I am wrong....
The real leaders and the heroes are the ones who fight for the freedom and
justice and are defending the land from the Burmese invaders.

Reply | Quote

Kachin

|118.172.19.xxx |2010-01-28 16:06:36

KIA to act now! Declare guerrilla war on the president, the directors, Chairman, CEOs of CPI &

*
head-hunt the management of this project and the Chinese workers who will splash their blood money
on Kachin girls while they are working and living in Kachin Land.

* head-hunt and declare the
personal war on the families of Burmese Generals and traitors involved in this project[/b][/size]

Reply | Quote

Kachin - Boycotting Chinese and Burmese Embassies will be p

|118.172.19.xxx |2010-01-28 16:02:56

China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) is the Chinese state-owned power company behind the
construction of Hydro power at Irrawaddy Myitsone. They may not publicly declare this project, but
they are definitely responsible for their back sides bending for their step fathers Burmese
Generals. Boycotting the Chinese government is waste of time and useless, they will turn their blind
eyes and deaf ears.
Softly softly approach with Burmese and Chinese Government will never work as
the history speaks for itself and countless attempts in the past have failed, besides China is one
of the countries with the worst human rights records, the ruthless Government does not even care the
basic human right for its own people, and why would they listen to the minority Kachin people
protesting and appealing to halt the Dam construction. For them it will be a laughing stock.
What
Kachin and KIA need to consider may be some of the following
(1) persuade Kachin in China i.e.
Zaiwa Zǎiwǎyǔ 载瓦语 and Jingpo 景颇族 to unite and fight against this illegal construction
in their brother\'s Land. If they are one of us and they should be willing to support whatever
actions we take.
(2) Find out who the suppliers (i.e. materials used to construct e.g. cables,
pipelines, machinery….etc) for CPI and they may be some US companies which are supplying the
technologies and expertise, machinery to CPI.
(3) Get US Government to impose export sanction on
these third party companies
(4) KIA to declare guerrilla war on the president, the directors,
Chairman, CEOs of CPI.
(5) KIA to go after and head-hunt the management of this project and the
Chinese workers who will splash their blood money on Kachin girls while they are working and living
in Kachin Land.
(6) All Kachins and others living in overseas and Exiled Kachins to head-hunt and
declare the personal war on the families of Burmese Generals and traitors involved in this project,
who are studying and residing at overseas, also visiting overseas.

Common KIA! show Kachin people and the world the guerrilla fighting skills we were once famous for
and inherited from our forefathers warriors. Use them or loose them, it’s entirely up to you.

Reply | Quote