River Coalition of Cambodia: Say No to Lao Dam

Khmer Times / May Titthara

Thursday, 11 February 2016

Tek Vannara, executive director of NGO Forum, displays a letter at a news conference yesterday. KT/ Mai Vireak

The River Coalition of Cambodia, along with 13 other NGOs, released a letter yesterday requesting Prime Minister Hun Sen demand the Lao government to cancel the construction of their Don Sahong hydropower dam and also pause all hydropower projects along the Mekong River due to the heavy risk of impacting the environment and bio-diversity in Cambodia.
 

In the letter, sent on the occasion of a press conference organized by The NGO Forum, the River Coalition of Cambodia expressed its deep concern about the construction of the Don Sahong Dam for its close proximity, only two kilometers, to the Cambodian-Lao border. 
 

The NGOs also pointed to heavy negative environmental impacts associated with the construction of the dam, including the effect it will have on the reproduction cycles of fish in the Mekong, which are vital to the diets of most Cambodian people as well as the economy as a whole. 
 

“We, the River Coalition of Cambodia, urge Samdech to demand the Lao government cancel the project of the hydropower Don Sahong Dam, and to pause all the decision making regarding the dams along other parts of the Mekong in order to preserve people’s interest in Cambodia as well as in the region,” the letter read.
 

Sem Von, a village representative from Kratie province, said that the Don Sahong Dam will impact their living alongside the river. He urged the government to ask Laos’ government to postpone construction of the dam until there are more serious studies conducted and regional discussions on the matter.
 

“The river is the source of life for our people, who are fishermen. We totally rely on fish and resources in the river. We suggest the government stand up with us against this project,” Mr. Von said.
 

Long Sochet, a resident in an area near the Tonle Sap River in Kampong Chhnang province, said that the Tonle Sap, which is connected to the Mekong River, is very important for the substantial resources it provides people living around the Tonle Sap lake.
 

“I and people living alongside me would like to ask the government to help us solve this problem,” said Mr. Sochet.
 

Tek Vannara, Executive Director of The NGO Forum, said that a group of NGOs has been informed that there will be a meeting of the Mekong Committee on February 14 in the Lao capital Vientiane during which the Don Sahong hydropower dam project will be discussed. 
 

“We, the civil society, suggest that the Cambodian Royal Government should urge their Laotian counterpart to postpone the construction of the dam and follow the agreement on the Mekong River that requests all parties concerned discuss before any construction of dams take place on the Mekong River. We also urge the secretariat of state working with the Mekong Committee to independently reexamine the project of the Don Sahong hydropower dam,” Mr. Vannara said.
 

The Don Sahong Dam will be 30 to 32 meters high and seven kilometers long. It will be situated 1,500 meters from the Cambodian-Laotian border in Steung Treng province. The dam could generate anywhere from 240 to 360 Megawatts of power. The Mega First Corporation Berhad, which is in charge of the construction of the dam, claims to have already completed a study and evaluated the environmental impact of their project. 
 

Their assessment: there will not be any environmental impact.