Cambodia: Protesters Want Mekong Dams Stopped

Cambodia: Protesters Want Mekong Dams Stopped

About 20 environmental activists called on the government to stop all new
dam projects on the Mekong River to protect fish stocks and communities
slated to be affected by construction.

The appeal was made by the group as they gathered in front of the parliament
building in Phnom Penh yesterday morning, before marching to the Environment
Ministry holding solar panels and a drawing representing biogas as they
called for alternative, less destructive ways of generating electricity to
be built instead.

No steps were taken by authorities to hinder or stop the march.

Sen Bo, a representative of Pursat province's fishermen, said his members
were very worried by news of the government's proposed Sambo Hydro dam. The
dam in Kratie province will lead to a projected 2,000 evictions from nearby
settlements.

Mr. Bo said it would also cause "serious harm" to the Tonle Sap Lake.

"Normally, if there is no dam, the water flowed about 62 percent into the
Tonle Sap Lake. But if there is a dam, the water can flow into Tonle Sap
Lake only 20 percent," he said.

"So the water that flows will be very little, and there will be no water for
647,000 hectares of forest around the lake.

"Plus, with the hot weather, all the forest will be lost by fire. And when
it has burned down, fisheries will also be damaged and then who will face
difficulties? It will be fishermen and the poor around the Tonle Sap Lake."

Chan Samnang, a sociology student at the Royal University of Phnom Penh,
said based on experiences from dams elsewhere along the river in Laos and
Vietnam, the eviction of local communities was necessary because of the
destruction of their villages, forests and farms and the associated
deforestation, meaning the environmental impact is large.

"The government should start to consider the use of renewable energy, rather
than dam construction," he said, suggesting that solar and biogas could
provide adequate energy without the environmental and social destruction.

Tun Leang, a spokesman for the Ministry of Mines and Energy in charge of the
energy sector, could not be reached for comment, while another ministry
spokesman, Dith Tina, declined to comment.

NGO Forum director Tek Vannara echoed Mr. Samnang, calling on the government
to increase its study of alternative energy sources.

"[Then] we can compare if an option is good on the value of its use, for
example if it is better for the environment and does not affect our
society," he said.

"Then the government can make the correct decision and all aspects of the
country's economy, environment and society can profit."

Yesterday's march followed a similar one at the end of September, during
which youth groups and activists submitted a petition to the ministries of
environment and mines and energy, requesting detailed information on the
Sambo Hydro dam project. Neither ministry has yet responded to their
request.

The petition stated their concerns about the proposed construction, which is
projected to produce up to 2,600 megawatts of electricity, but which
opponents claim will harm the endangered river dolphins native to the area,
cause large-scale loss of forest and the eviction of whole communities.

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Ref:
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/31433/protesters-want-mekong-dams-stopped/

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com