09/12/2024
Villagers and Local Leaders from 3 Mekong Districts in Chiang Rai Voice Concerns on Pak Beng Dam Project
[a translation from original Thai text]
December 7, 2027 - At the Mekong School in Chiang Khong, Northern Thailand, approximately 150 villagers, community representatives, women leaders, and local leaders, including village headmen, and mayors from three districts along the Mekong River in Chiang Rai (Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong, and Wiang Kaen) gathered to express their strong concerns on the Pak Beng Dam project, planned to be built in Laos, about 96 kilometers from the Thai. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) already signed a power purchase agreement with the private company developing the dam project, while the transboundary impact assessment remains unclear.
Niwat Roykaew, or "Kru Tee", president of Chiang Khong Conservation Group, stated that this year's major floods caused the Mekong River to overflow into the Ing River for over 21 kilometers. Similarly, the Kok and Ing rivers are also overflowing due to high water level on the Mekong. The construction of the Pak Beng Dam will further exacerbate this problem.
For over eight years, communities have been demanding a halt to the Pak Beng Dam project due to environmental impact studies and uncertainty about the extent of flooding after construction. If the project proceeds, the damage will be difficult to rectify. Therefore, people from various sectors along the Mekong River have come together to express their opinions and send a message to those responsible.
"Currently, Thai commercial banks have not yet signed loan agreements for the Pak Beng Dam project. This demonstration is to send our message to them. If the banks delay the loans, it will postpone the dam's construction. The voices of the villagers today should reach the government, especially the security sector, because many islands and areas along the Mekong River are at risk of inundationif Pak Beng Dam is built," said Niwat. He emphasized that this gathering is significant because those directly affected will reflect on the facts, following previous site visits and opinions expressed by academics, parliamentary committees, and the National Human Rights Commission.
"People are worried about flooding. Pha Dai rapids in Wiang Kaen district, a popular tourist spot will be completely submerged. Beaches will disappear, especially Ban Don Mahawan Beach in Chiang Khong, a popular summer beach. If the Pak Beng Dam is built, Ban Don Beach will be permanently submerged. Additionally, riverside agricultural areas will be affected, as well as tributaries like the Ngao and Ing rivers," Niwat explained.
He further added that Kai, or Mekong River algae, will be affected by the rising water levels as sunlight will not reach its source. Floods will worsen the situation, especially with large volume of water releases from Chinese dams, causing the Mekong River to rise and tributaries to overflow, resulting in prolonged flooding and damage to agricultural crops, particularly vast rice fields.
Apithan Tipta, Mayor of Mueang Yai Sub-district Municipality, Wiang Kaen District, stated that he clearly does not oppose development, but there are various forms of development. Electricity demand can be met easily through clean technologies like solar, and wind, which are environmentally friendly, particularly in this context of extreme climate events. This year's floods in Northern Thailand raise concerns that the Pak Beng Dam will cause worse floods, especially on important agricultural crops. Villagers are still unaware of the information, and government agencies have not provided accurate details about the extent of potential flooding if the dam is built.
Apithan added that villagers rely on agricultural production but cannot plan due to lack of information. Wiang Kaen has a large number of pomelo orchards, a crucial economic crop, which were flooded and had to be replanted. If the Pak Beng Dam is built, will the villagers have to start from scratch again? Some have children who are studying and rely on their pomelo orchards to fund their education. If the dam is built and their orchards are destroyed, how will they manage?
"You can develop, we don't object, but don't let it affect the environment. They say there will be a fund to compensate those affected. Will it really help? In the case of Mae Hai Khan Chanta, where the dam had to be demolished because rice fields were flooded, it took over ten years for the affected persons to receive compensation. What if this happens to the people of Wiang Kaen? How will we manage? Even for dams in Thailand, it takes a long time to receive compensation. If it happens in a neighboring country, who will we claim from, and how long will it take? Will it be enough, " the mayor questioned.
Phatai Namchai, village headman of Yai Nua, Mueang Yai Subdistrict, mentioned that this year's floods occurred three times, severely impacting pomelo trees, and no assistance was provided except for a few registered with the district agriculture office. Compensation has not been received yet. If the Pak Beng Dam is built, the orchards will likely become a lake, and everyone will have to buy boats and become fishermen.
"They asked me and the villagers about building the dam, but after asking, they disappeared. This year, the floods were high, causing severe damage to the villagers. Some used to sell pomelos and gained millions of baht per year, but this year they haven't earned a single baht. Some have 2 rai of pomelo orchards, some have 5 rai, all completely damaged," Phait said.
Sangob Inthaep, a representative of Wiang Kaen civil society, stated that the Pak Beng Dam project stems from the greed of certain powerful individuals. The dam was not Laos' idea, but rather, Thais expressed their intention to buy electricity from Laos, encouraging the dam's construction. They claim to need the electricity as a reserve, even though Thailand currently has a 61% electricity reserve margin. Yet, they support the dam's construction through loans from Thai banks.
Prayut Phothi, head of Wiang Subdistrict, Chiang Khong District, mentioned that the tourist attraction of Ban Don Mahawan Beach generates hundreds of thousands of baht in income for villagers annually. If the Pak Beng Dam is built, the beach will undoubtedly be affected. Compensation is like giving a single paracetamol pill, providing temporary relief but not a cure. Their development is our destruction. We gain little benefit. Currently, there are almost no wild Mekong River fish left, especially large fish like the Mekong giant catfish. In the past, over a hundred were caught annually, but now we only eat farmed catfish.
"If you look at the Golden Triangle Casino, you'll see large pipes dumping wastewater into the Mekong River, making it look unclean. Meanwhile, China has already built dams on the Mekong River. I feel very sad if they build the Pak Beng Dam and flood Ban Don Mahawan Beach," Prayut said.
Suwit Karahan, president of the Ban Bunruang Wetland Forest Conservation Group, Chiang Khong District, stated that if the Pak Beng Dam is built, the damage will be immense. This year, the Mekong River overflowed into the Ing River, damaging over 80% of rice fields. Even without the dam, the damage is already devastating. If the Pak Beng Dam is built, the damage will undoubtedly be worse. Where will the compensation come from?
"I want to ask the media to tell those in power to conduct comprehensive study, to obtain the information thoroughly before making decisions. Please gather information and visit the homes of villagers in Chiang Khong, Chiang Saen, and Wiang Kaen first. However, the good news is that today, the villagers who participated showed their united strength in opposing the Pak Beng Dam," said the president of the Ban Bunruang Wetland Forest Conservation Group.
Ms.Prakairat Tandi, lady village headman of Thung Ngiw and vice president of the Women Council, Chiang Khong, mentioned that they conserve over 500 rai of wetland forest. This forest was once proposed for a special economic zone, but villagers resisted, and preserved it. This forest is adjacent to the Ing River, and when the Mekong River overflows, it causes flooding. She urged everyone to join forces in opposing the Pak Beng Dam, as it will have a significant negative impact, especially on women along the Mekong River, who rely on natural resources for their income.
Niran Guna, village headman of Sop Kok, Chiang Saen District, stated that this year, Mae Sai experienced severe flooding with mudslides due to mining in Myanmar. If the Pak Beng Dam is built, it is still unknown where the flooding will reach. Will it overflow into tributaries like the Kok and Kam river? Who will be responsible for compensation?
Hannarong Yaowalert, Water resource expert, mentioned that he visited all three districts and witnessed the flooding of the Ing River for over 20 kilometers. In Wiang Kaen, 3,000-4,000 rai of pomelo and corn crops were submerged. This is the reality. In Chiang Saen district, there is no information about the water volume from China. This year's flooding reached over 350 meters above sea level, while the Pak Beng Dam's reservoir level is 340 meters above sea level, and it is located over 90 kilometers from Thailand. The flood level will be higher than the dam's. He is concerned that if the flood level information is unclear, it will affect the people in the three districts. Ultimately, they will say it's a natural disaster, not the dam's fault.
The Pak Beng case will be different from the Luang Prabang and Xayaburi dams, where the impoundment contained within Laos. However, with Pak Beng built in Laos, the impoundment will reach Thailand. There is no transboundary impact study made public. EGAT signed the power purchase agreement (PPA), but needs to complete the transboundary impact study before the loan agreement is made.
Until now, there has been no proper survey of comunities along the Mekong River. The burden, the transboundary ecological and social impacts will fall on the people. He urged for a halt to the project, until the study is completed, made public, and approved.
He proposed that the government cancel the Pak Beng Dam project. If the contract cannot be canceled, all information should be clarified first. The burden will fall on people across Thailand, due to electricity oversupply. Today, we produce excess electricity. The Pak Beng project can be postponed for another ten years without any issues.
