Mekon River Commission prepares to meet in Thailand

April 1, 2010
ABC Radio Australia

Thailand is extending the Internal Security Act, ahead of this week's MeKong River Commission summit. The commission's first ever four day summit of leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam begins tomorrow to discuss the future of the four thousand kilometre long Mekong River. The vital waterway, which runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, is suffering from overuse its water levels reported to be at its lowest in 50 years. The five Southeast Asian nations blame three Chinese dams upstream for the dropping water levels although Beijing blames it on a long-running drought.

Presenter: Ron Corben
Speakers: Lee Huu Ti, chief of water security section United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific's Environment and Development Division; Andrew Noble regional director, International Water Management Institute

Click here to listen to the audio program (Windows Media)

CORBEN: In Northern Thailand, the mighty Mekong River is known as the Mother River. The more than four thousand kilometre river runs from its headwaters in the Tibetan plains to the South China Sea.

Over 60 million people rely on its waters as a source of food and sustenance. But currently the river is at its lowest levels in decades as a drought grips southern China and South East Asia.

Lee Huu Ti is the chief of the water security section in the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific's Environment and Development Division. The drought, Dr Lee Huu says, has taken its toll.

LEE HUU: According to the record when the MRC (Mekong River Commission) they say it's much lower than 50 years and that is a serious situation because its level of development much higher than before. So 50 years - now the economic and social impact is much more severe than 10 or 20 years ago, because the demand for water is much higher. The values to produce economic goods per cubic meters is much higher, the social value of this one is much higher.

CORBEN: The Mekong runs through China's Southern Yunnan province, through parts of Burma, Thailand and Laos then moves through Cambodia and Vietnam before reaching the sea.

But this year drought has hit the Chinese provinces; over 20 million people face water shortages with some 6.5 million hectares of crop affected. Along the river's reaches in northern Thailand fishermen struggle to catch fish as the waters decline.

Non-government groups blame the impact of dams in Southern China for the water's decline.

Save the Mekong Coalition, an alliance of environmental groups, are critical of China's management of the river and dams build in China.

China has completed the Xiaowan hydroelectric dam, the second largest hydro-electric station in the country on the upper reaches of the Mekong. Others are planned.

The Mekong is also a vital food source for millions of people, especially the poor, on the lower basin, through Cambodia and Vietnam. Now discussions are underway for the construction of six hydropower dams on the Lower Mekong River. Activists have called for a halt to the plans because of their potential impact on the migratory routes of fish.

This week they had support from the International Water Management Institute. Andrew Noble is a regional director for IWMI.

NOBLE: But there are clear indications that we need to be aware of, this is the biggest inland fishery in the world. The beneficiaries of that fishery is the poorest of the poor; it provides the greatest protein source to diets. Decisions on building dams are made by sovereign governments in the region and I think what is important is that these governments have a sovereign right to make these decisions but these decisions must be made in light of the potential consequences they will have.

CORBEN: Conflicts over water resources and access around the Mekong are set to dominate in this week's talks in Hua Hin in Thailand, and for the 60 million population dependent on the Mekong's waters there are no easy answers.

[Thai] Govt ensures safety of MRC leaders

March 30, 2010
By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

The government will provide highlevel security for leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Burma and China who are scheduled to attend the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Hua Hin early next month.

More than 5,000 soldiers and police officers will be deployed to ensure the safety of all participants and leaders attending the meeting, which runs from April 2 to 5, director general of the Department of Water Resources Kasemsan Jinnawaso said at a press conference yesterday.

Cambodian PM Hun Sen, Lao PM Bouasone Bouphavanh, Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung, China's Foreign Minister Song Tao, Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win and PM Abhisit Vejjajiva have all confirmed they will attend despite the political turmoil, Pimuk Simaroj, an assistant to the natural resources and the environment minister, said.

The leaders and participants will be put up at several different hotels.

Pimuk said the government had set up a committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, to oversee security for the summit.

"The committee will evaluate the situation day by day," he said, adding that as an additional measure, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan put the plan in operation yesterday.

Great expectations

"At the end of the summit, we expect each member country to achieve a deal and take a mutually beneficial standpoint over the Mekong River development," Pimuk said.

The MRC's mission is to promote and coordinate sustainable management as well as develop water and related resources for all countries' mutual benefit and their people's wellbeing.

The 4,350kilometre Mekong, one of the world's major rivers, starts in the Tibetan Plateau and runs through China's Yunnan province, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. However, in recent years, downriver countries have complained that dams constructed by China on the river's upper reaches have caused abnormal changes to water levels.

Thais living along the river have been saying that water levels often increase and decrease drastically in the space of a day.

Leaders at the fourday long summit will also discuss food and energy security for the river basin, adaptation and mitigation from the impact of climate change, infrastructure for sustainable development by the private sector and the challenge of organising an international river basin.

Meanwhile, Kasemsan said Thailand would add two new topics to the agenda - haze and drought in the region.

He said China had also asked the Thai Foreign Ministry to hold an unofficial bilateral meeting to discuss management of the Mekong River. This unofficial meeting will be held on April 4.

Thai- Cambodian Conflict Will Not Be Discussed At Mekong Summit

HUA HIN, March 27 (Bernama) -- Government leaders who are members of Mekong River Commission (MRC) will not discuss the bilateral conflict between Thailand and Cambodia at the first summit, which will be held at the Thai resort of Hua Hin early next month.

Leaders from Cambodia, Thailand, Lao and Vietnam will attend the summit which scheduled to be held from April 2 to April 5.

Citing Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya on Saturday, Thai News Agency reported that the leaders will focus more on the record low-water levels in the Mekong River, which has impacted agriculture in the member countries.

On the bilateral conflict between Thailand-Cambodia, Kasit said that: " If members of the public want to protest against Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during the meeting, they could do so but only within the set boundary."

Hun Sen has been at loggerheads with the Thai government especially with his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva, after his government appointed fugitive, ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as its economic adviser late last year and refused to extradite him to Thailand.

Thaksin, ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, was sentenced by Thailand's Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to a two-year prison term in absentia for having a conflict of interest in Bangkok's Ratchadaphisek land purchase case.

Kasit said he did not want to see a protest against Hun Sen, if it posed an obstacle to the joint development of the Mekong River.

Touching on the current protest against the Abhisit government by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) which is demanding the dissolution of the House and a fresh general election, Kasit said he believed the demonstration would not impact the upcoming summit.

He urged the Thai people to cooperate with neighbouring countries, and said that it would benefit the Thai themselves.

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) is an intergovernment body charged "to promote and co-ordinate sustainable management and development of water and related resources for the countries' mutual benefit and the people's well-being by implementing strategic programmes and activities and providing scientific information and policy advice."

Thai Defence Minister: Security Law may be imposed at Mekong Summit venue

BANGKOK, March 25 (TNA) - A stringent security law may be imposed at the venue of the Mekong Summit which Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will attend next month, said Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

Cambodia's Foreign Ministry said Hun Sen would attend the First Mekong River Commission Summit on April 4-5, accompanied by Foreign Minister Hor.
Namhong and other top officials.

Gen Prawit said security will be tightened when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen attends the summit, involving Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, in the resort town of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan, southwest of Bangkok. The meeting is scheduled for April 2-5.

The Thai defence minister said that he would oversee security measures at the venue himself, with Internal Security Act may be imposed only at areas.
around the meeting venue.

It will be Hun Sen's first visit to Thailand since the two neighbouring countries downgraded ties and recalled their ambassadors in November after the Cambodian leader appointed ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser.

The Cambodian government also refused the Thai government's request to extradite Thaksin to serve a two-year jail term for violating conflict of interest laws in helping his wife purchase a plot of prime Bangkok land at a lower than market price while he was in office.

The fugitive ex-premier now lives abroad, mostly in Dubai. He frequently addresses his red-shirted supporters via video link. The demonstrators have been encamped at Bangkok's Phan Fah Bridge for more than a week to pressure Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament.

The Thai defence minister called on the Red Shirts not to rally at the meeting venue.

He added that the number of soldiers to be deployed and security measures will be discussed later by the top military brass.

[Thai] Govt mulls invoking ISA in Hua Hin [for Mekong Summit]

26/03/2010
Bangkok Post and AFP

The government is studying whether to enforce the Internal Security Act in the resort district of Hua Hin to secure the safety of leaders attending the Mekong summit next week.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday said he would consult all armed forces commanders about measures for the summit, including the ISA.

"I wanted to plead with all groups not to rally against the summit," the minister said.

The Mekong River Commission summit will take place from April 2 to 5. The commission is made up of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Burma and China have agreed to send observers to the meeting in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is due to attend the meeting in what will be his first visit to Thailand since the neighbours downgraded ties in a row over former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in November last year.

Cambodian cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan said Hun Sen would focus purely on the Mekong issue and there were "no plans at all" for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The leaders of all four countries would address the severe drought that has lowered levels on important waterways including the Mekong River.

Drought here in Thailand continues to affect Udon Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Trang.

In Udon Thani's Non Sa-at district, the Sokrang reservoir, which is the main source of tap water in the province, has dried up, posing the threat of a water shortage for 1,600 households in Non Sa-at and Nong Waeng districts.

The Kumphawapi Waterworks that supervises tap water production in Non Sa-at has decided to make tap water available only from 5am to 10am and from 3pm to 8pm.

In Prachuap Khiri Khan, tap water is no longer available in six villages in Bang Saphan Noi district. The Pak Phraek Tambon Administration Organisation has had to distribute up to 60,000 litres of water a day to houses in six villages, said Sathaphon Somchit, the Pak Pharek TAO president.

In Trang, drought has affected more than 22,000 families and almost 10,000 rai of farmland.

More blasts rock Bangkok amid protests

Provincial hall and a government building hit as police investigating explosions say TNT devices used in attacks

March 26, 2010
AFP

Bangkok : Thailand said yesterday it would upgrade security measures after two more blasts hit government buildings, the latest in a string of minor attacks since anti-government protests erupted this month.

The rallies mounted by supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra have been met with a heavy security deployment, including a lockdown on parliament that has triggered an opposition boycott.

Authorities said that the new blasts, which hit a provincial hall on Bangkok's northern outskirts and a government building west of the capital on Wednesday, had hit weak spots in the operation involving 50,000 personnel.

"We have to adjust our operation to curtail the attacks," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters at parliament, adding that he had instructed officials to step up security measures.

Government in control

"Intelligence reports say they want to create unrest to show that the government cannot control the situation, but I want to reassure the Thai people that the government is in control," he said.

The blasts, which follow eight other minor explosions since the protests began on March 14, caused minor damage but no injuries.

Most of the incidents have involved grenades, but police investigating the provincial hall blast said they believed it was a TNT explosive device.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday extended a tough security law enacted for the demonstrations, applying it to Bangkok and nearby districts for an additional week as the red-shirted protesters vowed fresh actions.

Opposition Puea Thai lawmakers boycotted parliament for a second day yesterday to protest tight measures including concrete and razor-wie barricades surrounding the building and thousands of soldiers and police on duty.

The president of the upper house Senate, Prasobsuk Boondej, also criticised the military presence as an over-reaction and said some senators had problems entering the building.

Hun sen for summit

Cambodian leader Hun Sen will attend an April summit in Thailand, officials said yesterday, his first visit since the neighbours downgraded ties in a row over ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors in November after Hun Sen appointed Thaksin as an economic adviser and refused Thai requests to extradite him.

Foreign Ministry: Cambodian premier to attend ASEAN Summit

BANGKOK, Oct 2 (TNA) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will attend the 15th Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) Summit in the Thai seaside report of Hua Hin at the end of this month, a senior Thai foreign ministry official said on Friday.

Speaking to journalists after a preparatory meeting planning arrangements for the upcoming ASEAN summit scheduled for October 23-25, Veerasak Futrakul, Permanent-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said bilateral talks between Thai and Cambodian leaders regarding the border dispute near the ancient Preah Vihear temple has not yet been set up.

The Thai permanent-secretary for foreign affairs added that an attempt to solve the border dispute is underway through the existing mechanism agreed by both sides.

Tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border near the 11th century temple renewed after the Cambodian premier announced on Monday that he had ordered his troops to shoot any intruders from Thailand who stepped on Cambodian soil.

Mr Hun Sen's stern statement came shortly after yellow-shirt protesters of Thailand's Peoples’ Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rallied in the Thai province of Si Sa Ket to oppose Cambodia's plan to build new structures in the contested 4.6 square kilometres zone surrounding Preah Vihear temple and clashed with local police and residents.

The United Nations cultural body UNESCO approved Cambodia's sole bid in July last year to list the 11th century temple as a world heritage site while the question of sovereignty over the land has never been clearly resolved.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva however shunned Mr Hun Sen's threat, saying his remarks were aimed for his domestic benefit and had happened many times.

He also affirmed the situation at the border is normal, the kingdom also remains ready to protect its sovereignty.

Cambodian PM threatens to skip ASEAN summit over temple row

Monday, September 28, 2009
Bureau Report

Phnom Penh: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday said that he might skip a regional summit to be held in Thailand next month if a dispute over an ancient temple on the border between the two countries continues.

Hun Sen said he might send the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Thailand is set to host the 15th ASEAN summit on October 23-25 at the coastal town of Hua Hin.

Hun Sen, meanwhile, said he will never hold talks with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on the 4.6 square kilometre area near the temple as long as his counterpart uses a particular map drawn up by Thailand.

The Premier also alleged that the border dispute was caused by internal problems of Thailand.

Since the border issue erupted last year, many rounds of talks at different levels including defence and foreign ministerial levels have been held but a concrete agreement or solution has proved elusive. The overall territorial dispute stems partly from the use of different border maps.

Cambodian Prime Minister May Skip Asean Summit - Spokesman

Friday, January 09, 2009

PHNOM PENH (AFP)--Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen might not attend a regional summit in neighboring Thailand next month, his spokesman said Friday, after it was rescheduled following months of protests in Bangkok.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said it would be costly and difficult for Hun Sen to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting, recently moved from the capital to the seaside town of Hua Hin.

The summit was originally set to be held in Bangkok in December but was moved first to northern Chiang Mai, then delayed and moved again to the coast in late February as political turmoil engulfed Thailand.

Hun Sen believes meetings with key regional partners China, Japan and South Korea, which have been pushed back to take place separately in April, are the most important element of talks, the spokesman said.

"If it's only the 10 Asean countries meeting, it would be difficult for Hun Sen to go," he said.

"He says that Thailand should reconsider and wait until the end of the year (to host the summit)."

Alternatively, the premier backed a suggestion from Singapore that the bloc consider staging the summit at the Asean secretariat in Jakarta, the spokesman said.

He said talks with China, Japan and South Korea were most critical because they are expected to give $80 billion in regional aid to reduce short-term liquidity problems, in line with the so-called Chiang Mai initiatives agreed in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Thailand currently holds the rotating chairmanship of Asean, which groups it with Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

Thailand moves regional summit to beach town [Hua Hin]

BANGKOK, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday he had decided to move the venue of a regional summit to a resort town 200 km from the capital to avoid disruption by anti-government protesters.

Abhisit told reporters the former fishing village of Hua Hin, 125 miles southwest of Bangkok, was the best venue to host the summit of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) from Feb. 27 to March 1.

"It has the best environment that should provide a smooth summit," he said. The beachside town is also the habitual home of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Abhisit acknowledged that threatened street protests were behind the decision to switch the venue from Bangkok.

Thailand holds the rotating chair of ASEAN and the summit had been planned for December, but protests against the previous government caused it to be postponed.

The new dates do not fit the schedule of ASEAN's regional "dialogue partners" -- namely China, Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand -- so a second, separate meeting would be held in late April to accommodate them, Abhisit said.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

(Reporting by Chalathip Thirasoonthrakul; Writing by Nopporn Wong-Anan; Editing by Ed Cropley)