NOTE FROM EDITOR
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ear friends, welcome to the fourth edition of ‘Living Rivers’, our new quarterly newsletter which we hope you will enjoy reading. The Sesan, Srepok and Sekong (3S) Rivers in north-eastern Cambodia contribute more than fifteen percent of the Mekong’s water flow and are representatives of important and biologically diverse ecosystem types. The 3S Region is also home to numerous minority groups and indigenous people including; Brov, Jarai, Kachok, Kavet, Kreung, Kreung Lon, Lao and Tampoun. Riverside communities in the 3S Region have always starts stated that their way of life has been dependant on the wild rivers’ resources which include fresh water, fish, other aquatic fauna, and wild vegetables. We aim to bring to your attention information regarding 3S communities, including hydropower development issues, and other conservation and environmental news relevant to 3S villagers and the region as a whole. We anticipate that this broad regional approach will be able to make a contribution to, and raise awareness of hydropower projects and their likely environmental and social costs both locally and nationally.
Funding for the Living Rivers publication is generously provided by Oxfam Hong Kong and The McKnight Foundation.
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NATIONAL CONSULTATION WORKSHOP ON HYDROPOWER LOWER SESAN II DAM
On 31st of May 2011, community representatives from around Cambodia came together to discuss the Lower Sesan 2 hydropower project. The National Consultation Workshop on the Lower Sesan II dam was held in Phnom Penh Hotel under the presidency of H.E. Brach Soun, secretary of state for the Ministry of Environment.
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| Photo by: Um Touch |
More than 147 participants (44 women) attended this important national workshop, including community representatives from affected areas of Ratanakiri, Mondolkiri , Stung Treng, around Tole Sap, Mekong, and seashore area in an effort to provide an opportunity for all relevant stakeholders to find a win-win solution for the operation of the project. More ever, there are also participation representative from stakeholders such as department, ministry, company nationally and internationally. This workshop brought together the communities, government, and development partners on LS2 dam development, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss on the quality of the EIA report and compensation and resettlement standard of the company.
Mr. Chhit Samath, ED of NGOF welcomed all participants and guests by addressing the objective of the workshop where he mentioned the current state of hydropower development in Cambodia, there are 51 potential sites for dam construction, of which 4 are under construction. “There have been negative impacts on fisheries and other livelihood alternative of the people along the river as a result of these projects.
Mr. Chhit Sam Ath, Executive director of NGO Forum during
welcome remark in the national consultation workshop in
Phnom Penh Hotel (Photo by: Um Touch)
It is important for civil society to work with government and poor people alike and strive to improve livelihoods within the rural areas of Cambodia.”
H.E Prach Sun, secretary of the Ministry of Environment had the honor to provide opening remark to the consultation workshop. “This is very good opportunity for all stakeholders to discuss hydropower development and its impacts. For the community especially to raise their concerns for the workshop to consider.” He briefly summarized about resources in Mekong and Tolesap Lake that provided very important biodiversity and livelihood options to Cambodian people. “Dam construction must have a negative impact on fisheries and livelihoods of people living along the rivers.
H.E. Prach Sun, Secretary of State, ministry of Environment
said in open remark in the national consultation workshop
which he verified that development cannot avoid from impacts
(Photo by: Um Touch)
However, Cambodia really needs electricity to develop its country. So I believe that electricity from this dam will reach to rural people. This means that mitigation and compensation should be discussed in this consultation workshop. I do hope and wish you all have good discussion success in this consultation.”
Mr. Tek Vannara, Program manager of CEPA, presented the social, culture and livelihood aspects of Sesan villagers which he verified that the livelihood of villagers in the Sesan intimately connected to the natural resources and biodiversity in the surrounded area especially Sesan and Srepok Rivers. If something happened or harm to the river, it will also affected to the Sesan communities as well.
Mr. Tek Vannara, Program manager of CEPA; livelihood of
villager in Sesan district is connected to the natural resources
and biodiversity surround them (Photo by:Um Touch)
Mr. Meach Mean, coordinator of 3SPN highlighted that the EIA report is not yet complete enough because the report does not yet include or survey the indirect impacts which will be caused by the project. “I suggested to the government and company to consider this and re-conduct the EIA.”
Mr. Keo Mib and Mss. Nen Soukit, community representative report that their communities cannot accepted the result of the EIA report because the company has not included or surveyed the communities located downstream or upstream. These communities will be impacts and the company needs to include or provide compensation for indirect impacts. “Our communities request to the company and Cambodian government, that if theLower Sesan II dam must be built, please provide research or survey for the communities who are living downstream and upstream who will face indirect impacts from the project and provide real and suitable compensation for every impact.”
Anyway the communities’ representative from Stung Treng province also asked to the speaker to provide them related to compensate documentation that till now their communities not yet see or receive that document but there was no any speaker response to his suggestion.
Professor Ian Baird made an important correction to earlier statements made by the H.E Prach Sun, secretary of the Ministry of Environment which indicated that electricity is for use within Cambodia. “The electricity generated by the Lower Sesan 2 will be solely for export to Vietnam. There are no transmission lines from the site to Phnom Penh so it is very unlikely the electricity will be used in the city, and similarly unlikely the electricity will be available for use by the impacted communities in Stung Treng and Ratanakiri Provinces.”
And the at the end of this workshop, the communities’ representative from area who will be affect by the project read their joint statement of their concern around the Lower Sesan II dam and requests to the company and Cambodian government to find mechanism and solution to solve and mitigate the impacts for those affected communities.
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| 3S community's representative read their joint statement on Lower Sesan II dam. Photo by: Um Touch |
Bellow is image of translate version of joint statement of 3S communities
the 09th ANNUAL 3S COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
Fang village, Vuen Sai Commune, Vuen Sai district, Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia
Approximately 300 villagers from Ratanakkiri, Mondulkiri, Stung Treng and Kratie provinces met in Fang commune, Vuen Sai District to celebrate the values of their local rivers including the Sesan, Srepok, and Sekong Rivers.
Chairperson: Mr. Chhit Sam Ath, Executive director of NGO Forum, Mr. Kong Seang Theng, Deputy director of department of environment, Mrs. Kham Nav, Versnsai district governor, Mrs. Foy Sut, community representative, Mr. Ly Sameth, CBO’s director in Siem Reapl (Photo by:Bunthann)
The one-day event is held annually, and this years 9th gathering marked a special occasion for community to come together and highlight the achievements of the network throughout the past year.
Participants from Ratanakkiri, Mondulkiri, Stung Treng and Kratie provinces met in Fang commune, Vuen Sai District to celebrate the values of their local rivers including the Sesan, Srepok, Sekong Rivers (Photo by:Bunthann)
The celebration was opened by the Vuen Sai District Governor, Ms. Kham Nav and followed with ethnic Tampoun villagers performing a cultural dance as village elders drank from a ceremonial jug of rice wine. Community representatives then gave passionate speeches about the importance of the rivers, their community, and their network, before discussing and voicing their discontent over the planned 700USD million Lower Sesan 2 hydroelectric project, set be built about 40 kilometres upstream from Stung Treng town, and the project’s potential fallout for their communities.
Ethnic Tampoun villagers performing traditional and cultural dance during the opening ceremony (Photo by:Bunthann)
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| Mrs. Kham Nav, District governor |
Mrs. Kham Nav, Vuen Sai Deputy District Governor, said “this 3S celebration is an important opportunity for communities, to meet each other and share their experiences on livelihood and impacts during the past year. Before we had the 3S network working on the dam issue we did not know what impacts affect to the communities was cause by the hydropower dam located upstream.
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| Mrs. Foy Sut, 3S community represetative |
Mrs. Foy Sut, community representative, said “because of we are all know and understand of what happened to us especially dam issue which will cause many negative impacts on natural resources, environment, biodiversity and our livelihood, this is why we all reaction or advocate for finding suitable solution for ourselves and what we have done do not mean that we are fighting or against with government development but we would like to suggested that before started develop on something, please conduct the impacts assessment with fully participation from local community.”
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| Mr. Chhit Samath |
The Construction on the 400-megawatt dam – which is a joint venture between Cambodia’s Royal Group and EVNI Joint Stock Company of Vietnam – has been proposed to start construction in October this year.Mr. Chhith Sam Ath, executive director of NGO Forum, said that the event was crucial in allowing communities to express their concerns. “The river is our life because it supports the villagers’ standard of living, and if the dam is constructed, could affect more than 1,500 families living in the region and flood more than 30,000 hectares of forest.”
Mr. Meach Mean, project coordinator of the 3S Rivers Protection Network, another organiser of yesterday’s meeting, said an environmental impact assessment of the scheme had ignored a raft of considerations including indirect impacts to upstream communities, including changes in fish migration and breeding patterns.“Based on the impact of Yali Falls dam in Vietnam, the fish stocks have already decreased markedly, and that will be exacerbated significantly by a second dam. Farming areas will have to change and that will negatively impact livelihoods and food security as well,” he said.
Community Solidarity
The solidarity of the various communities continued after the initial speeches, when villagers marched down the one-kilometre stretch of main road in Fang commune, carrying banners, singing and chanting positive slogans emphasising the importance of the river to their respective communities.
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| Communities marching down on one-kilometre stretch of main road in Fang commune, carrying banners, singing and chanting positive slogans emphasising the importance of the river (Photo by:Bunthann) |
Once community reached the Sesan Riverside, the group released around 11,000 fish spawn to increase future stocks. They also prayed for the future prosperity of those living along the river, while monks blessed the ceremony.
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Community releasing around 11,000 of fish into the Sesan River to increase future stocks with praying for the future prosperity of those living along the river while monks blessed the ceremony (Photo by:Bunthann)
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For further reporting on the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-zON7F1qvoVillagers See Negative Impacts from Proposed Dam (VOAvideo in Khmer language)
http://www.rfa.org/khmer/indepth/rkiri_residents_march_demanding_river_protection-05192011035514.html (Article in Khmer language)
Also refer to Phnom Penh Post article on 20th May 2011 by May Titthara, Adam Miller, and David Boyle.
XAYABOURI DAM IN LAS PDR
The 3S community network and 3SPN welcomes the announcement of a 10-year delay in construction of the controversial Xayaburi dam located in Laos.
A meeting in late April in Vientiane included officials from Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam who agreed to put off a decision on the dam pending further independent study on the projects’ impacts.
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| Map of Xayabouri dam |
The $3.8 billion hydropower project was anticipated to produce electricity for export to enhance the struggling economic situation of Laos.However, widespread condemnation of the dam and warnings by environmentalists, activists, scientists, and local community alike regarding its potentially serious negative consequences to fisheries and community livelihoods, have led to the current moratorium on construction.
Further work needs to be done to ensure that environmentally sound and socially just development principles are applied to Mekong River basin and the livelihoods of the millions of people living along the river are respected and protected.
3SPN is proud to be a member of the Save the Mekong coalition and appreciates the hard work from our coalition partners and local and regional network to achieve this outcome.
CHINESE COMPANY CONDUCT THE FESIBILITY STYDY FOR LOVER SREPOK 3 DAM ON THE SREPOK RIVER
Chinese Company Drilling Land in Thmey village, Chey Odom Commune, Lumphat district alongside the Srepok River
Chinese Company Drilling Land in Thmey village, Chey Odom Commune, Lumphat district alongside the Srepok River
During January of this year, 3S community representatives in Lumphat District had been observing a Chinese survey team working in Phum Thmei Village, Chey Odom Commune along the Srepok River.
The workers belong to the Guangxi Electric Power Company from China and according to initial discussions the group will be performing soil testing from 26th December 2010 to 26th January 2011, and again from 20th March until 20th June 2011. The Chinese group arrived with drilling equipment; however local authority do not know and have not granted permission for this activity.
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Guangxi Electric Power Company workers drilling riverside of the Srepok River in Thmey village, Lumphat District
(Photo by: Bunthann)
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We obtained the following information after interviewing the Team Leader of the Chinese group:
- The group will be performing soil testing in a number of alternative areas to build hydropower dams. The Chinese company workers drilled the land along the Srepok river in Thmey village upstream to Eav rapids drilling into the ground approximately 50m.
- The dam wall will build across the river stretch from Phou Deu Mountain to Phou Heen Khav mountain which it’s a total distance of approximately 10km.
- The two mountains are 203m high and the dam wall across the river anticipated to be approximately 53m high and produce 300MW of electricity.
- The Guangxi Electric Power Company workers drilling riverside of the Srepok River in Thmey village, Lumphat District.
According to interviews with local communities and authority we found that this Chinese company came to survey without informing the local authority or local communities of their plan or activity of their survey. This has frustrated local people who live in the survey area who worry and wonder what this group is doing in their land, ‘I don’t know that what these people are doing. I asked the village and commune chief, who also do not know. I think this is not good, they should inform us for what they are doing here before they start their activity’ objected one local villager.
TRADITIONAL REQUEST FOR HELP FROM THE KO LA KANN SPIRIT
Communities who will be affected by the Lower Sesan II Hydropowe Dam
Community representatives who will be affected by the Lower Sesan II dam joined together to perform a traditional praying ceremony to ask the Kor La Kann Spirit for help.
The spirits response to communities’ request that was that there will be no dam built in five years. Community representatives promised to offer a pig or buffalo to the spirit if this premonition comes true.
The 400MW Lower Sesan II hydropower dam will be located at the confluence of the Sesan and Srepok Rivers and local communities both downstream and upstream of the dam site are concerned about the impending impacts.
112 community representatives from from Kbal Romeas, Srekor I and Srekor II in Stung Treng Province, and community from six districts in Ratanakiri Province (Vuen Sai, Ta Veng, Andong Meas, O’Yadav, Lumphat and Kon Mom district) initiated the traditional Kor La Kann praying ceremony at Kor La Kann rapid along the Sesan River in order to:
- wish for happiness and good health for all communities living along the Sesan and Srepok Rivers who are relying on environment and natural resources
- Ask the spirit to soften the government’s and company’s heart to stop building Lower Sesan II dam and chose other option for electricity generation with the aim to avoid the negative impacts which will affect to communities who are living alongside of the Sesan and Srepok Rivers.
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The praying ceremony was prepared according to local community’s ancestral tradition which included invoking the Kor La Kann spirit with offering such as; chickens, incense stick, candles, white clothes, coconut, white wine, jar wine and many other offerings. Villagers also released 16 chickens as a wish for happiness and good health for their communities. During the ceremony, community representatives described all the issues and problems that communities living along the River have experienced and asked the spirit specifically about the Lower Sesan II dam.
The Praying celebration is to show that the communities living in the Lower Sesan II dam zone do not want to leave from their village and settle in a new area, and plead with the government and all stakeholders to reconsider and clearly observe the negative impacts which will be caused by this project.
Information collected from communities along the Sesan and Srepok Rivers
Sesan water level is so low down people can walk across the river
The communities along the Sesan river reported that from November 2010 till February 2011 the Sesan waterr level was so low that people could walk across the river without taking a boat.
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Sand view at the Sesan river´s bottom
(photo by: Um Touch)
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The communities who are living along the Sesan river in Ratanakiri province reported that the Sesan water level falling dramatically. “I can drived my moto across the river without taking boat”. It has been a difficult time for women who need to take water from the river for home consumption as they need to carry it long way, further than normal, to get back home.
The drought of Sesan River affect to communites’ health in Andong Meas and O’yadav district
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| Arms of a lady in who have got itchy (photo by: Um Touc |
Communities living along the Sesan River in Sesan commune, O'yadav district in Ratanakiri province is facing by lack of clean water for home consumption. They will get itchy, diarrhea and fever, after they use the unclean water in the river.
Hand of a lady in who have got itchy which she assures that because of the unclean water in the river
The drought of Sesan River cause to decreasing of fish and natural plants
From one day to day, the communities who living along the Sesan River worrying of decreasing of amount of fishes. They said, ‘before there were many fishes and easy to caught them and could sold to the market, but now they cannot catch even for home support. Mr. Sev Sven said; ‘Now catching fish is very difficult, some days I cannot catch even one fish’.
The less water of the Sesan River cause to erosion
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| Erosion in Talav village which villagers (photo by: Bunthann) |
Erosion is always happen along the rivers especially Sesan river. This erosion event sometime because of the water fluctuation, up and down of water level is a factor that cause to erosion. For instance, the river bank in Talave village, Talav commune in Andong Meas district is a big erosion wihch make villagers move their home from the river bank to build at a new place which far from the river bank, these cause them amount of time and maney for home movement.
3S communities representative visit Thailand
There were 19 communities including 6 women from the 3S region and Mekong river together make visit to see some dams in Thailand. The communities have visited to three dams including Phak Moun, Sarinthon and Rasisalai dam, which they found that these three dams have casue many negative impacts to Thai communities who are living the dam zone with getting unfair compensation from the company for the impacts which cause by the dam.
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| Communities representative visiting the Sarinthon dam and meeting with Sarinthon communities to exchange experiences of impacts cause by dam development and advocacy procedure with the issue. (photo by: Nen Soukit) |
These changes have made Thai communities who are affecting by the dam work very hard to negotiated with the dam company, claim to the campany open the dam gate permanently to protect the water flow and also keeping fish migration to uper stream of the dam.
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