{"id":1673,"date":"2018-03-08T07:28:09","date_gmt":"2018-03-08T07:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shanhumanrights.org\/?p=1673"},"modified":"2022-05-29T09:29:20","modified_gmt":"2022-05-29T09:29:20","slug":"talong-villagers-strongly-oppose-public-consultation-on-upper-yeywa-dam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shanhumanrights.org\/?p=1673","title":{"rendered":"Talong villagers strongly oppose public consultation on Upper Yeywa dam"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Media Statement by Talong villager<\/strong><\/p>\n

March 8, 2018<\/p>\n

Talong villagers strongly oppose public consultation on Upper Yeywa dam<\/strong><\/p>\n

Talong villagers in Hsipaw township, northern Shan State, are opposing the public consultation by the Myanmar Environment Institute (MEI) for the Upper Yeywa dam on the Namtu or Myitnge river that would flood their entire village.<\/p>\n

The public consultation is being organized by MEI at the local General Administration Department office in Hsipaw today. MEI is promoting the Upper Yeywa dam project despite local strong opposition. If completed, the dam will submerge the entire village of Talong, housing 653 people. 637 acres of orchards, 140 acres of rice fields, and countless hill-farms, as well as temples, pagodas, and schools.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand why the civilian government do not pay attention to local people\u2019s voices. We have been calling for this project to be halted many times. Proceeding with the dam project is like pushing us into danger. The government should listen to us and protect our community from being destroyed. We strongly oppose any dam promotion,\u201d said Nang Lao Kham a local Talong villager.<\/p>\n

The project has not been transparent since it started in 2008. There was no consultation with local villagers beforehand, and there is fear of dam breakage due to poor construction standards. In recent months, there have been landslides at the construction site.<\/p>\n