17. 06. 2006
Karen Rivers Watch
News brief releases
Laueh Roland
Situation Regarding Hat Gyi (Taung Kyaw ) Salween River Dam after the Bowb Blast
During the past month of May, there was a Bomb Explosion at the site, where the SPDC was planning to build the Hat Gyi Dam. It was at a place where the Thai construction of the dam team took their bath after work. Two Bowbs were placed there but only one exploded. The SPDC interrogated the day workers and then tied them up and dried them in the sun the whole day. One Thai citizen who had his led blown away was sent back to Bangkok on the same day.
The SPDC accused the KNU of being responsible for the explosion. But one of the local people said that the Bombs are of the kind used by the SPDC. One villager said that it must be a wicked scheme by the SPDC.
Previously, travel along the river was quite open and easy. But after the Bomb Blast, strict security measures were taken by the SPDC. A checkpoint was put up under a Banyan Tree near Meh Seik village and checks were made of every boat that travels up and down. If the boasts did not stop for checking there was the order to shoot.
For the Hat Gyi (Taung Kyaw) Dam construction the SPDC had placed (4) security sites-
- The overall officer in charge being Column Commander Kyaw Ko Htet of the No (81) LIB No (22) division.
- Meh Seik village one company commanded by intelligence officer Naing Aung and (A) company commander Kyaw Thu Ya.
- Company commander Kyaw Zay Ya with one company at Mae La Pa Tha village.
- No. (22) Division LIB (202) Column Commander Thet Tun with one company at Taung Kyar-Mae La Pa Tha.
- Intelligence officer Yeh Min Tun and Company (A) commander Han Win Naung with one group at Mae La Pa Tha.
The DKBA are not informed of the plan to build the Hat Gyi (Taung Kyar) Dam construction site. Also the DKBA were not allowed to enter the Dam work site. Only villagers from local areas were made to work as daily laborers giving them Kyats (4000) per day. At the Dam Site were placed workers together with bulldozers, Water Pumps, Drills, Rock and Earth Testing Machines and one Computer. There was Computer communications with Pa-an, Rangoon and Bangkok.
The villagers did not like the building of the Hat Gyi (Taung Kyar ) Dam construction. For the completed Dam will result in displacements of many villages including Htee Paw Mu Naw and Mae Par which will all be inundated.
In the beginning, the villagers were much scared, when they heard of the Dam Building plan. Then, they saw SPDC officials together with some Thai officials coming to the place. The villagers had become really frightened. They moved away from the Dam areas, taking all their belongings together with their cattle and buffaloes.
The villagers are simple farm workers. They depend on the fertile silt carried down by the river for farming / cultivation. The building of the Dam will result in the river flow being affected, lessening of the river water, lessening of the silt being brought down, and many farmlands flooded. It will affect the farm-works very heavily and endanger many villages. Villagers have become very worried, very frustrated. They are very much against the building of the Hat Gyi (Taung Kyar) Dam construction. However, they are quite helpless, unable to do anything against the SPDCs decision.
The SPDC and the Thai Government had signed and agreement to build the Hat Gyi (Taung Kyar) Dam construction in December of 2005. It was a Project given priority by both Governments. |
