The Salween River (also spelt Salwin, a.k.a. Nu) rises in Tibet, after which it flows through Yunnan, where it is known as 怒江 (pinyinnu4jiang1). It then leaves China and meanders through Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand on its way to emptying in the Andaman Sea by Moulmein. For most of its route the river is of little commercial value, and it passes through deep gorges. However, once entering Burma it spreads into a wide delta that irrigates Burma's agricultural heartland.
On April 1, 2004, the Chinese premier halted the construction of 13 dams on the Salween in Yunnan.
Phoel, Cynthia M., "Bargaining Power", in Oxfam Exchange, Fall 2004.
Phoel, Cynthia M., Defending Rivers and Earthrights in Burma (http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo/where_we_work/east_asia/news_publications/art7170.html/?searchterm=Salween) on the site of Oxfam America
The Chinese believe the Salween valley to be deadly to all strangers, but it is in Chinese territoryparticularly in the Lu Kiang, or Mong Hk statethat there is the largest population on the river until Lower Burma is reached.
The chief tributaries of the Salween in British territory are the Nani Yu and the Nam Oi or Nam Mwe on the right bank, and the Hsipa Haw on the left.
SALWEEN, a district in the Tenasserim division of Lower Burma.
The plans for a major dam on the Salween in Burma's Shan State are a throwback to the brutish past of dam construction.
Further displacement will occur as people flee the hopeless living conditions in relocation camps, the increasing abuses of the military, and the burden of forced labour, which is frequently cited by Burmese refugees in Thailand as a motive for leaving their home country.
However, the planned Salween Dam represents an extreme case with regard to public participation and consultation in dam projects: the case where no such exercise is possible or, if undertaken, can be meaningful, due to the pervasive climate of fear created by the authorities' gross oppression of the affected population.
Feeds |
Contact