RWESA
Rivers Watch East and Southeast Asia
Call
to all agencies involved in dam-building in East and Southeast Asia upon the
release of the World Commission on Dams final report
On
July 1, 2000, Rivers Watch East and SE Asia (RWESA) was formed, a network of
peoples organizations and NGOs working to stop the funding of dam projects
in East and SE Asia and to restore rivers to the communities who depend on
them. Dams have brought about the destruction of rivers and the lives and
livelihoods of villagers in our region. Dams undermine the rights of people,
their community and culture as well as destroying the environment, all of
which are basic needs for their survival.
At
the time of our formation, we released the Pak Mun Declaration, demanding a
moratorium on dam construction, decommissioning of existing dams and
reparations for dam-affected peoples.
We
welcome the final report of the World Commission on Dams. The report shows
the devastating impacts of dam projects on communities and the environment,
and also shows how dams have failed to deliver their projected benefits.
However, the report does not go far enough in its recommendations.
In
the light of the report and recommendations of the World Commission on Dams,
and drawing on the Pak Mun Declaration, our demands are as follows:
1.
All agencies involved in dam-building in East and SE Asia, including
governments, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan Bank for
International Cooperation, China Development Bank, bilateral aid agencies
and companies should
immediately and comprehensively adopt the recommendations of the World
Commission on Dams, and should integrate them into their relevant policies.
In particular, as recommended by the WCD, no project should proceed without
the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples, and without the
demonstrable public acceptance of all those who would be affected by the
project.
2.
Independent, transparent and participatory reviews of all planned and
ongoing dam projects should be undertaken, in accordance with the WCD's
recommendations. While such reviews are taking place, project preparation
and construction should be halted. Such reviews should establish whether the
respective dams comply, as a minimum, with the recommendations of the WCD.
If they do not, projects should be modified accordingly or stopped
altogether. This is especially important for existing projects in East and
SE Asia that are already wreaking havoc upon the lives of millions of
people, such as Bakun and Selangor Dams in Malaysia, Three Gorges Dam in
China, and San Roque Dam in the Philippines.
3.
Governments, dam-building companies, dam industry consultants, the World
Bank, private banks and the Asian Development Bank, who are all responsible
for the havoc wreaked upon our communities by large dams, must make proper
reparations to dam-affected communities. The restoration of livelihood and
land compensation for relocated communities must be at the core of any
reparation plans.
4.
We demand a moratorium on large dam construction in East and SE Asia until
the recommendations of the WCD have been implemented by all dam-building
agencies, and until reparations to dam-affected communities are being
undertaken.
Bangkok,
November 24, 2000
Endorsed
by:
Australia
James
Arvanitakis
AID/WATCH
Cambodia
Vann
Piseth
Culture
and Environment Preservation Association
Hong
Kong
Kata
Lee
Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples
Gerard
Greenfield
Globalization
Monitor
Sophia
Woodman
Human
Rights in China
Kevin
Li
IRN/Greenpeace
China
India
The
Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE), Manipur
Citizens
Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), Manipur
Indonesia
Anung
Karyadi
WALHI
Friends of the Earth, Indonesia
Arianto
Sangaji
Yayasan Tanah Merdeka
Japan
FUJISAWA,
Yukiko
Africa
Japan Forum
APEC
Monitor NGO Network
A
SEED JAPAN
MATSUZAKI,
Yuriko and OOMAE, Yuiko
Asian
Womens Center
FUJIWARA,
Toshihide
Campaign
for Future of Filipino Children (CFFC)
Matsumoto,
Ikuko
Friends
of the Earth-Japan
Doi,
Toshiyuki
Fukuoka
NGO Forum on the Asian Development Bank (FNA)
IIDA,
Tetsunari
Green
Energy Law Network
MIYAZAKI,
Naoko
Institute
for Global Environmental Strategies
OHBAYASHI,
Mika
Institute
for Sustainable Energy Policies
ISHIDA,
Kyoko
Japan
Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES)
KAWAKAMI,
Sonoko
Japan
NGO Network on Indonesia
ASANO,
Yuko
Jubilee
Kansai Network
Jubilee2000
Fukuoka
Matsumoto,
Satoru and Iinuma, Sayoko
Mekong
Watch-Japan
Ujiie,
Masahiro
National
Dam Opposition Network Japan and
Sagami
River Camp-in-Symposium
ODA
Reform Network
Niikura,
Toshiko
Rivers!Japan
Sarawak
Campaign Commitee
TERAO,
Terumi
Ex-professor
at Nagoya Institute of Technology
ASAMI,
Yasuhito
Associate
Professor
Hitotsubashi
University
KUSAGO,
Takayoshi
Associate
Professor
Hokkaido
University
TODA,
Kiyoshi
Associate
Professor
Faculty
of Environmental Studies
Nagasaki
University
Malaysia
Jessica
Binwani
Consumers
Association of Penang
Shamila Annie Mohamed
Ariffin
Sahabat
Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia)
Sam
Hui
SOS
Selangor (Save Our Sungai Selangor)
Dr
Kua Kia Soong
SUARAM
(Suara Rakyat Malaysia)
Third World Network, Penang
Nepal
Sarba
Raj Khadka
Rural
Reconstruction Nepal
Philippines
Joan
Carling
Cordillera
Peoples' Alliance, Philippines
Sri
Lanka
Hemantha
Withanage
Environment
Foundation Ltd.
Taiwan
Sam
Hsu
Radiation
Safety and Protection Association and Taiwan Watch Institute
Lily Hsueh
Taiwan Environmental Action
Network (TEAN)
Thailand
Patrick
Pierce
EarthRights
International
Asst.
Professor Dr Kasian Tejapira
Faculty
of Political Science, Thammasat University
Prasittiporn
Karn-Onsri
Friends
of the People
Sugin
Katasila
Group
of Villagers Affected by Hua Na Dam, Thailand
Group
of Villagers to Protect the Yom River (Kaeng Sua Ten), Thailand
Chainarong
Sretthachau
SEARIN,
Thailand
Pranee
Nonchan
Villager
Committee to Restore the Mun River, Thailand
Supoj
Yaowalee
Villager
Committee to Protect the Rub Ror River Basin, Thailand
Hannarong
Yaowalers
Wildlife
Fund Thailand
Focus
on the Global South
Wanida
Tantivitayapitak
Assembly
of the Poor
Phaijit
Silalak
Mae
Mun Man Yeun Village
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