Can fishermen fight? and people’s movement in the region: Some observations

Premrudee Daoroung Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance (TERRA) 10 November 2015, An Giang, From the people’s statement 25 September 2015

• We are people from local communities in the Mekong region, who depend on the eco-systems created by the Mekong river and numerous other rivers and lakes in the region, especially, the Tonle Sap, Sesan and Mekong Delta, for our food, health, livelihood, culture, society and incomes. The waters and resources of the Mekong region sustain our lives and economic security.

• The dams built on the Mekong mainstream and other rivers in the region have resulted in severe changes in the Mekong’s ecosystems, endangering life, livelihoods and the economy of the entire region. Indigenous peoples, women and children are most affected by these changes. The dams have also worsened the impacts of climate change that we are already facing. These dams include Pak Mun, Yali Falls, Nam Theun 2, Theun-Hinboun, Xayaburi and the series of dams on the Lancang river in .

• We have witnessed and experienced the destruction caused by the dams. For us, who live by the river and experience every change in the water systems, there is no question that such dams result in serious negative impacts for present and future generations, and should not be built.

Nam Ngum Location Capital, Coordinates 18°31′51″N102°32′51″ECo ordinates: 18°31′51″N 102 °32′51″E Construction began 1968 Opening date 1971 Construction cost US$97 million (over three phases) Owner(s) EDL Dam and spillways Type of dam Gravity dam Impounds Nam Ngum River Height 70 m (230 ft) Length 468 m (1,535 ft) Spillway type Radial Creates Ang Nam Ngum 3 Total capacity 4.7 km (3,800,000 acre·ft) 2 Catchment area 8,460 km (3,266 sq mi) 2 Surface area 370 km (140 sq mi) Opening date 1994

Country Location Ubon Ratchathani Province Dam and spillways Impounds Height 17 m (56 ft) Length 300 m (984 ft) Width (crest) 7.5 m (25 ft) Reservoir Creates Pak Mun Reservoir Operator(s) EGAT Turbines 4 Installed capacity 136 MW Annual generation 290 GWh

Manwan Dam - construction began 1986, Opening date 1995

Dachaoshan Dam

Type of dam Gravity

Impounds Mekong River Height 132 m (433 ft) 3 Total capacity 920,000,000 m (745 ,856 acre·ft) Power station Installed capacity 1,750 MW Yali Fall Dam 720 MW began the construction in 1993 Completely constructed in 2001 Commission date 2010

Location Khammouane, Laos Dam and spillways Type of dam Gravity dam Impounds Nam Theun Height 39 m (128 ft) Length 436 m (1,430 ft) Reservoir 3 Total capacity 3.53 km (2,860,000 acre·ft) 2 Catchment area 4,039 km (1,559 sq mi) 2 Surface area 450 km (170 sq mi) Power station Operator(s) Nam Theun 2 Power Company

Commission date March 2010 Turbines EDL: 2 × 37.5 MW EGAT: 4 × 250 MW

Installed capacity 1,070 MW The reason for the fight

Nam Theun 2 dam site

Living along Sesan River, Cambodia

Resettlement villages – not enough water for agriculture and daily use Life after - migrants at the garbage dumpsite

Existing and future plan of hydroelectric dams in Lao PDR.

Nam Tha 1: 230 MW Nam Ou 2: 950 MW

Nam Suong 2: 190MW Nam Ngum 3: 430 MW Nam Khan 2: 145 MW Nam Ngum 4: 290 MW Nam Ngum 2: 553 MW Nam Theun 1: 400 MW Hong Sa lignite: Nam Theun Hinboun: 210 MW 608 MW Nam Theun 2: 1,088 MW Nam Leuk : 60 MW Xe Bang Fai 1: 80 MW

Nam Ngum: 150 MW Xe Bang Hieng: 285 MW

Xekong 5: 255 MW Nam Ngipe 1: 260 MW Xekong 4: 346 MW Nam Theun 3: 450 MW Xe Kaman1: 407MW Xe Set: 45 MW Houay Ho: 126 MW Xe Pian-Xe Nam Noi: 365 MW

Mekong dams

Photo: Suthep Krisnavarin

Fish product from lower Mekong only - is more than 2 million ton per year, value more than $1,500 million

The history and the future

Women of Srekor Village in Cambodia Saying “NO” to Lower Sesan 2 dam