A Kachin leader’s views on Myitsone Dam

(Commentary) – Howa Duma Zau Gam of Myitkyina is a son of the Kachin leader who initiated and signed the Panglong Agreement in 1947, the milestone agreement on ethnic unity in Burma prior to its independence. Last year, he met with U Myint, the head of President U Thein Sein's economic advisor team. The following is a commentary by Howa Duma Zau Gam on the controversial Myitsone Dam project.
In 1987, I heard a series of loud blasts at night and wondered what’s happening? I was about to run out and look, and then I saw a large Banyan tree and other trees were drifting away in a large volume of water. Later, the whole valley of Nalonlae was covered with sand and looked like a desert. We couldn't continue work on the farms for a long time.


In Kachin, there’s a traditional saying, a word called "Mawro," which means a giant mudslide or a mountain collapses and breaks into pieces.
In the 2004 flood, the Kyeinkaran hydropower dam was cracked in six places and it finally broke. The torrents were so large that it was like a huge waterfall, and it uprooted giant trees. It was all in a split second, and we couldn’t do anything. Within a short time, the houses beside Tanparae village were swept away by the water. The event has traumatized my life and the fear left a scar in my mind.
It was like bulldozing things at nine o'clock at night. I heard booming sounds as the water raged by. It felt like an earthquake, and the world was at the end. The scene of that disaster is still with me. The floodwater at first was just about at the calf level, but I couldn't stand in it. The torrent was so strong.

If it had been a normal flood, we could have run. But when the dam broke, we had no time to run. I am frightened even when I think about it now. Who can give us a guarantee that the Myitsone Dam will never break? The Chinese leaders or the Burmese leaders? There are always pros and cons in every type of project – the negative and positive effects. For the positive effect of this dam, who will enjoy the benefits, the electricity? China will take it all. Who will suffer from the negative consequences? You can rebuild damaged property, but it is not easy to rehabilitate people who suffer from post-traumatic distress and mental stress. Our country has experienced such disasters before.
In the Myitsone Dam scenario, it is questionable that profits from this project could cover the loss to the environment and the people who will be affected by it. Who can give a guarantee that such a disaster will never be repeated? The benefits to the Burmese people are small, but we have to pay a high price.

The project needs to be opposed by Bamar, Shan, Kachin, Karen and every other citizen. If we block the river here with the dam, the soil will wash down from the mountains and jungles and it will be trapped and become silt in the reservoir. The population living down stream will not be able to farm and grow crops in the same way. Farmers will suffer all the way down to the end of the Irrawaddy River. The impact will hit the whole country. This dam issue involves everyone. There is a Chinese proverb, "We’re not afraid to die, but to starve." This is the spririt of humans who seek well-being while they are alive.
If we don't consider our future, if we don't keep a fraternal spirit, the opportunities for a productive future can be ruined. I think the dam is being built for two reasons: first, for generating electricity and second for China to control Burma. The dam is being built to control security within Burma; it’s like planting a ticking bomb. Burma’s leaders will have to listen to what the Chinese are saying. The construction of the dam is a serious long-term issue, and it could ultimately affect millions of citizens.
That’s why I worry so much. The benefit for us is little, while the advantages for the Chinese are great. That is why I signed and suggested a petition against the dam. I signed first. If they ask me to express my views, I have a lot to say.
This is an issue on which everybody should be consulted before a final decision is made. There is a phrase in the Bible, "Work without any consultation can lead to ruin.” If we consult more, we will have a better chance of achieving success. I want everyone to have all the information and to have an opinion on this matter.
A natural disaster could stem from something like an earthquake, or from some other natural cause, but with a project as large as the Myitsone Dam a disaster could not be controlled or stopped if it occurred.
For these reason, I think we should go slow. We should not risk people’s lives or livelihood just for economic gain. It is good for the present government to seek a variety of ways to help develop the country. But the Myitsone Dam project worries me so much that I can't eat or sleep well.

source from http://mizzima.com/edop/commentary/5959-a-kachin-leaders-views-on-myitsone-dam.html