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| Construction equipment on a road leading to the site of a controversial proposed dam in Xayaburi province of Laos in April this year. Photo by: Piyaporn Wongruang/Bangkok Post |
THURSDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2011 12:01
MARY KOZLOVSKI
The Phnom Penh Post
An environmental group has accused the Lao government of using a report prepared by a Swiss company to “greenwash” the proposed US$3.8 billion Xayaburi hydro-power dam on the Mekong River in a “desperate bid” to gain regional approval for the controversial project.
International Rivers said in a statement yesterday the report, prepared by Pöyry Energy AG, acknowledged uncertainties about the trans-boundary impact of the dam but nevertheless recommended that it be built.
The group said the report stated neighbouring countries’ concerns had been addressed.
“The Pöyry report sidesteps science and relies instead on guesswork, making it an unsuitable basis for decision-making on the Xayaburi Dam,” Ame Trandem, Southeast Asia program director for International Rivers, said in the statement.
Representatives from Pöyry Energy AG could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The Lao government comm-issioned the report in May after agreeing to delay the project following concerns raised by Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam at an April meeting of the Mekong River Commission, a body established under a 1995 agreement that requires the four countries to consult on projects that could affect the river.
The three countries, along with environmentalists, have expressed concern about the dam’s potential impact on water levels and fish stocks in the Mekong Basin.
According to International Rivers’ statement, the report by Pöyry listed more than 40 scientific and technical studies that still needed to be completed and the group identified 15 MRC requirements the project did not comply with.
Daovong Phonekeo, deputy director of the department of electricity at the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines, was unable to comment. Other officials could not be reached.
MRC communications offi-cer Surasak Glahan said by email the MRC was still reviewing Pöyry’s report.
Te Navuth, secretary-general of the Cambodia National Mekong Committee, said he had not yet received the report from the Lao government.
1 comment:
Decho Hun Sen, Mr Sam Rainsy asked you to sue him at a French court about your murders of the Khmer people. Why don't you dare to do it as you have done at the Cambodian court?
Being a strong man as well as a Prime Minister of one country, you should not be coward to face the real justice at a French court or International court. Unless, you are the real murderer in Cambodia that is the reason why you fear Mr Sam Rainsy at a real and fair justice court.
Decho Hun Sen, you rubbed the Cambodian people's well being, health care, dignity and sell Cambodia out to Vietnam in a cheap price as long as you can stay in power. Isn't that true, Samdach Decho Hun Sen?
How many Cambodian people's lives have you killed in your lifetime so far? Can you be honest to tell the truth?
As one Prime Minister of one country, you job is to bully your own people for just talking about Paris Peace agreement 1991 and about Vietnam's encroachments into Cambodia's territory. Why?
Samdach Decho Hun Sen, Why are you so scared of the truth? Why are you so scared of Mr Sam Rainsy when he asked you to sue him at a French court? You are a strong man as you claimed on the TV screen?
Samdach Decho Hun Sen, you shouldn't be scared of Mr Sam Rainsy because Mr Sam Rainsy has no weapon of mass destruction as you do. You are the murderer; you must be strong to face Mr Sam Rainsy at a French court as Mr Sam Rainsy has invited you to do so.
Samdach Decho billion dollars Hun Sen, Please face Mr Sam Rainsy as Mr Sam Rainsy has invited you through the world media. You used to win on Mr Sam Rainsy many times in a Cambodian court of justice. There is no reason why you should be worred about...if you have never killed anyone in Cambodia. Isn’t it true, Decho Sen?
The Cambodian people hope to see Samdach Decho Hun Sen has the gut as a leader or a man to sue Mr Sam Rainsy at a French court as Mr Sam Rainsy has invited Samdach Decho many times through Radio and world media.
Be a man Decho Sen! One in your life be a man Decho Sen! Be a man to face Mr Sam Rainsy at France court and international court.
We are personal bodyguards of Samdach Decho would like to see Decho Hun Sen be a man with Mr Sam Rainsy at a French Court. Otherwise, Samdach Decho is not worthy to protect because why do we have to die for protecting a traitor, a murderer, a blood sucker. Isn’t it true, Samdach Decho Hun Sen? Do you agree with that?
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