March 17, 2011
By Luke Hunt
The Diplomat
A huge row is brewing in Laos, something that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has followed the merciless damming of the Mekong River over the past decade.
Vientiane, with the support of Bangkok, has announced it will construct a $3.5 billion dam at Xayaburi in a 1,260 MW hydropower project to be built by Thai construction company CH Karnchang. Thailand will buy 95 percent of the power produced by the project.
As a result, tensions between Laos and Vietnam – normally the closest of regional neighbours – are growing. Hanoi sees its farmers and fishermen in the lower Mekong Delta region as being directly affected by the project. The Cambodians are also unimpressed, environmentalists want the dam scrapped and Australia is being asked to take sides. Even the United States has chipped in with its thoughts.
The Mekong spans six countries with about 60 million people dependent upon the river for their livelihoods in Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Their needs and environmental warnings have gone largely unheeded as dam construction along the Mekong shifts into high gear.
Since the Manwan Dam in China became the first in operation, in 1993, dozens of dams have been built or are planned for the Mekong River system, mainly in China and along tributaries in Vietnam. The Xayaburi Dam is the first of another 11 proposed hydropower developments on the lower Mekong River.
The World Wildlife Fund and International Rivers want the Xayaburi scrapped, calling it an environmental disaster that will alter the river’s patterns and impact fish catches.
Chinese dams have been blamed for droughts along the Mekong in recent years, with water shortages causing conflict within farming communities, particularly in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
Australia – a chief financial supporter of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) - has backed concerns by Vietnam and Cambodia over the project. Environmental groups are pressing Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd to pressure the MRC into declaring a suspensionon hydropower along the river.
The United States has also entered the fray, calling for a deferral of 10 years on any developments to allow for environmental impact studies to be undertaken.
Yet despite the political pressure from its neighbours, Washington and Canberra, Laos is unlikely to change its tune. There’s too much money at stake in a country that rates among the bottom of the heap on global poverty lists.
The deal was signed off in 2007 and the Laos government argues all the correct boxes regarding legal and environmental issues have been ticked. Thai banks and corporations, meanwhile, are stumping up the money and Vientiane won’t hesitate in trotting out the line popular among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations: At the end of the day, it’s simply none of their business.
25 comments:
voilà un gros problême qui va arriver dans ce coin du Monde : Thailande , Laos , VIETNAM , Cambodge : Le Mékong.
Chacun ne voit que son intérêt . On va un jour se bagarrer pour les intérêts que rapportent cette fleuve .
Le barrage sur le Mékong risque de détruire les vies des millions des gens qui dépendent de ce cours d'eau :
Le Lac de Tonlésap , l'endroit le plus poissonneux du monde , le terrain de culture du riz au Vietnam et les autres cultures sur la berge de Mékong que dépendent beaucoup de millions de familles.
On est en train de détruire notre richesse collective du peuple indochinois , pour l'intérêt de quelques compagnies !
Attention une autre guerre de l'indochine pourra avoir lieu , mais cette fois pour défendre les estomacs ...!
It's a tragedy that these lower Mekong countries are damming the the river when it is being choked and polluted enough already by Chinese industrial plants and similar dams upstream.
This is what 'development' entails in developing countries led by one-party state military regimes where large scale public spending flows into private companies' and officials' pockets and where the average citizen is left at the mercy of a river that can no longer sustain life forms, or to beg for survival along well constructed roads and bridges.
With the Mekong drying up and the forests disappearing, expect more ecological disasters to visit the region.
Ko-Prey
Cambodian new married law banned men over 50 and young men who earn less than $2550 per month from marry khmer girl!
That is so discrimination against international human right law.
Cambodia goverment encourage khmer women for selling to the high income earner or simply higher bidder rather than geniun love between women and men.
6:58 PM
I guest the law does not restrict the Cambodian old farts (60+) to have the 18 years old girls as concubines. The dumb law itself is hypocrite.
Sorry for posting on the wrong subject, but people don’t read shit on old posts.
It makes sense that Lao partners with Thailand, since their language, religion and culture are in close resemblance between the two.
IF Thailand behaves democratically and respects Cambodia's territorial integrity, I suggest that Cambodia should join the partner of Cambodia-Lao-Thailand alliance.
I agree with the previous 2 posters.
Many men (and women) have had to marry late in their forties or fifties due to economic circumstances or career pressure.
I fail to see how the introduction of this age limit will help curb human trafficking, which appears to be far more commom place within the country than between foreigners and Cambodians.
Apart from age discrimination, the salary or income threshold imposed also seems very curious indeed, to say the least. Professional traffickers and criminal rings are hardly known for financial hardships and won't find it too difficult to get past these rediculous rules anyway, unlike, that is, that poor chap who has worked and saved hard all his life hoping to start a family one day . . .
Does Laos dare to defy its Hanoi boss about building this dam?. if it does, it is a good sign for Laos to put its own interest over its Hanoi boss's. Does Hun Sen dare to fallow this way by putting Khmer interest over his Hanoi's boss?
How can Laos side with Thailand if it's been dominated by Vietnam?
I hope khmer, khmer krom, laos, and thailand can come together to unite for the purpose of huamanity and overthrow oppression from Hanoi-youn ( communist )
Communist treats people like animals.
Humanity don't need communism!
Majority of the people don't marry for love here. It's all about the money. Especially for these young gals marrying old farts. There's no love within this age gap....a 16 years old girl marrying a 50 or 60years old man. How can that be love? So all you men out there looking for love here, think twice before you come down here. Most girls here will marry you even if you look like an ape. Only quality you need to have is to live abroad. They'll marry just for the opportunity to go live abroad. Have you ever heard the term, "cheah kra-bey kon-long pokh?" Riding a buffalo over the mud. In other words, you are their own means of way out from this place.
Yeah, this law should be imposed within the locals as well, not just foreigners. It's disgusting to see old farts with these young girls. They got no shame.
At least the old farts from the west are the bridges for those girls who want to leave the hell hole in Cambodia for a better life.
The sad thing is those poor concubines of the old farts (60+) in Cambodia are not safe either. They are scared their wits of from the chumteav’s acid attacks.
I'm an old porcupine looking for jong love. I'm warning that I'm kinda prickly ab to poke :)-
Congratulation to Lao who dares to challenge Yuon leech. Keep challenging until you are free.
It is sad that the Khmer CPP, the Yuon's dog, will not dare like you do.
Stupid Stupid law maker. it's a paradox.
Who make over $2000?
who has money?
Old people does.
Even that, It is the 18 years old girl who make the decision- not the old man. If she is from the rich, she wouldn't take the old man. It works the same way as the prostitution.
Why can the law prevent the old man from having sex with the young prostitute.
This project should cause a huge impact to the fish stock at Boeung Tonle Sap and all people who live at the lower of this hydropower plan. Water is most import resource for humanity. I believe the Cambodian government must protest to the UN to stop this project. Khmer must learn from the hydro power plan Yali in Vietnam which gives a big impact to Khmer population along the Sesan River. Saying is saying, the key is relying on Ah Hun Sen government. As Khmer know that he is a traitor, He doesn’t care about Khmer cause. For him is about his family. To have autonomy to decide on Khmer cause, we must change this regime. To do so, All Khmer (Khmer krom, Khmer Kandal and Khmer leu) in abroad must wake up! - Imagine two millions Khmers in front of the united Nation in New York with flyers telling the world about Hun Sen's Regime and Youn’s hypocrisy. Khmer leader must fix a date for a gigantic protest in front of the United Nation. All Khmer must contribute their power as a people to make it possible, even you need to travel across the globe. This is a real people’s power. Imagine that type of protest with a big number of people, New York Street will become blocked because of a big number of the people. United States and all government in world will start to open their eyes on our country. Then the peace accord on October 23rd, 1991, will be automatically recalled. We know that Khmer inside the country are traumatized with the atrocity of Hun Sen’s Regime. For myself, I am ready to buy my plane ticket because we must fulfill our task as Khmer citizen (Kaon Khmer). We must understand that our country become as today under Youn control because we aren’t united. When we are united, the people power will be created. Don’t waste our Khmer life inside Cambodia because Youn do not afraid to kill any Khmer. All Khmer leader in abroad must be united and sit at ONE round table to find the strategy to make it happen. Dr. Venrable Hok Sovann, Honorable Sam Rainsy, Dr. Tith Naranh Kiri, Mr. Soun Serey Ratha, Mr. Tach Gnoc Tach, Mr. Sean Peng Se, Khmer Mchas Srok and many more; all of you who have the high respect from your compatriots must have the initiative to unit Khmer around the world. All Khmer must be collective as one. We need to take an example from Tibetan people. They are very tough. We have no time to lose.
Aung San Suu Kyi said:
“MY VERY TOP PRIORITY IS FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THINGS THEMSELVES".
Corazon Aquino from Philippines said: “I don't have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It's always the people who make things happen.
KHMER ALL AROUND THE WORLD MUST BE UNITED - DON’T GET TOO LATE - KAMPUCHEA KROM IS AN EXAMPLE - YOUN HAVE NO SENTIMENT- REMEMBER KHMER TE-ONG- KILLING FIELD – DO NOT BELIEVE ON THE ELECTION, YOUN WILL FIND THE TRICK TO WIN IT; if we win they won’t delegate the power.
Koh Tral
IF THEY KEEP ON THE PROJECT, WE MUST BUILD A HRYDOPOWER PLAN RIGHT ON THE BORDER TO FLOOD ITS COUNTRY.
THE SAME THE YALI DAM, YOUN HAS NO RESPECT TO KHMER PEOPLE. THEY ARE UNCONCIOUS.
KOH TRAL
UNITED NATION MUST CREATE AN INTERNATION LAW TO HAVE BENEFICE FROM THE COMMON NATURAL RESOURCES.
KOH TRAL
5:48PM Si vous regardiez le barrage Yali au Vietname, il a causé beacoup de misère au population qui vivent au bord de rivière Sesan au Cambodge. Ceci montre l'inconscience de la part du gouvernement vietnamien. Parlant de l'inconscience, ce gouvernment a essayé d'avaler le cambodge en le colonisant de façon secrète pour cacher des yeux du monde depuis plusieurs années. présentement, il y a 6.7 millions immigrants vietnamiens au cambodge de façon illégale organisé par ce gouvernment. D'après avoir lu votre commentaire, j'ai l'impression que vous êtes vietnamien vu vous portez attention aux terrains de riz au vietnam, ainsi que le mot Vietnam en lettre majuscule qui est différent des trois autres pays. Si oui, vous devriez réviser votre conscience étant l'human sur terre. Tous le monde a besoin de vivre de feçon convenable.Vous dîtes que" Chacun voit que son intétêt"; je trouve que parmi les quatre pays qui partagent ce fleuve, c'est vietnam qui est le pays le plus ègoïste et inconscient de faÇon générale. si on fait la même chose envers votre pays que penserez-vous? Ce genre de question vient de la règle d'or. Vous pouvez toujours le consulter à l'internet et c'est gratuit.
Kah Tral
Nowadays, nobody or no country go around to point for other country to do thing anymore. Look at Singapore, the smallest state next to Malaysia and Indonesia and these two big countries can't do anything to Singapore. And for Lao to speak against or ask Vietnam to back off is great. Vietnam is not the boss of these countries (Cambodia and Lao). This is what Thailand wanted to see long time ago. Vietnam needs to back off from these two countries. Thai and Viet can have a fare share of their business in Cambodia and Lao.
Tharmasatt University,
Prof. Doungchan Vichit
2:55 AM
Singapore has well educated people running the country and the population is pretty well educated.
10:26 PM
A female elephant or rhino can take whatever your prickly stuff.
;)-
2:55am Malaysia and Indonesia aren't the countries Hypocrite as Vietnam. Look, the real situation in cambodia, they use Khmer name steal Khmer Land.They are not afraid to kill khmer.
Koh Tral
Guys! Cambodian people have peace now after long civile war. Please let's khmer people live in peace and khmer people now can go anywhere in cambodia without the fear of Pol Pot now. Please let's us in peace we are sick of war and revolution as history teach very well about revolution at 1970 to now.
At 1970 all students and well educated people were support the revolution of Khmer rouge but after khmer rouge win they murdered all students and well educated people because khmer rouge scare of these people do revolution as they did to Non Nol regime. We learn from the history very well so we are cambodian people say no to any revolution.
Hun Sen may be not the best leader in the world but so far my families and majority of cambodian people live in peace and can walk or do whatever we want with no restriction as Khmer Rouge regime.
So we are happy that Hun Sen remain in power. So we still have peace in Cambodia. Plus Hun Sen already rich so he may not want more money as leader coming at all. At 1993, Cambodian people gave the opportunity to Doctor Prince to demonstrated democracy to develop Cambodia but Doctor Prince as well as his party members are so currupted and so cheap and hungry for money that is why as the result they have today. Nobody belive in them anymore.
In 1997 a lot khmer belive in Doctor Prince and his party have been murdered but Doctor Prince as well as his party member can't even dare to find justice for them till today. They are using innocent cambodian people to gain their power to currupt again that's all.
CPP look down on Doctor Prince and his party member because of that! Money hunger.
Hun Sen May not a perfect prime minister but so far Cambodian people live in peace now. We like Hun Sen remain in power so we can have peace.
6:55AM!! What the hell are you talking about?? Peace!!! Where?
Everyday we seen them evicting people for lands and cutting down our precious trees for CHIN and YUON.
Where is our Khmer people in the play in here??
You got to be out of your mind!!!
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