Regime Using Hatgyi Dam To Gain Strategic Military Advantage in Karen State
By Network Media Group
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Karen civil society organizations said the military council’s decision to build the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween River is to gain a strategic advantage of a region it has never fully controlled.
“They (Burma army) want to control this area and why they are pushing the dam. Of course, there’s also the political benefits with Thailand and China,” Saw Tha Boe, spokesperson of Karen River Watch, told NMG.
Despite widespread opposition against the hydroelectric project on the Salween River, less than 50 kilometres from the Thai border in Karen State, the military council appears ready to get started. Min Aung Hlaing, commander in chief of the Burma Army and head of the regime, promoted the project during a recent visit to the capital of Karen State capital.
“To develop a nation, we need efficient electricity, good transportation, good communication and human resources. We have enough water resources to produce sufficient power. The Hatgyi hydropower project will benefit Karen State and we should build it,” Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said in Hpa-an.
In 2006, Burma’s Ministry of Electric Power, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, China’s Sinohydro Corporation and International Group of Entrepreneurs signed a memorandum of understanding. If finished, the dam project will produce about 1,360 megawatts of power, of which there is 75-90 percent of power destined for Thailand.
Karen River Watch believes the military council wants to start the dam because it is facing financial difficulties. “I think the reason why he wants this dam project to start is that they can earn a lot of money after signing a new agreement,” Saw Tha Boe told NMG.
Saw Alex, spokesperson of Karen Peace Support Network, said the dam won’t benefit the Karen. “We don’t trust him…They think the Karen people will not oppose him because of his claims of electricity for Karen State.” He pointed out none of Min Aung Hlaing’s development projects has benefited the people. There are many armed groups based in the region that have condemned the military coup, and why they want to build it, Saw Alex said.
Even before the coup, large-scale development led to land confiscation and increased militarization in the ethnic regions.
Saw Tha Boe said when the former regime built the Thauk Yaykhap Dam it flooded thousands of acres in Karen State, located in Karen National Union Brigade 2, Taungoo District. “They didn’t need bullets to control the area,” he said, explaining they are planning the same with the Hatgyi.
Karen organisations want all the mega-dams stopped until they restore peace in the country.
In total, there are 14 dams planned on the Salween River. If completed, the combined power will be 15,000 megawatts.
Before the coup, China and Thailand heavily invested in hydropower projects on the main stem rivers. At this point, Karen River Watch said it is unclear what countries will cooperate with the military council to develop the dams.
