Estimad@s amig@s,
Las comunidades locales de la región del Mekong en el sudeste asiático, cuyo sustento depende del río Mekong y de varios otros ríos y lagos, necesitan urgente nuestro apoyo.
Las represas construidas en el cauce principal del río Mekong y en otros ríos de la región han provocado cambios drásticos en estos ríos, poniendo en peligro la vida, los medios de sustento y la economía de toda la región.
El Gobierno de Laos planea construir la represa Don Sahong, situada en una zona vital para la migración de peces entre el cauce superior y el cauce inferior del Mekong. La represa reducirá severamente las especies y el número de peces y también afectará la agricultura y la pesca en el delta del Mekong. A pesar de la destrucción que traerá consigo la represa, el Gobierno de Laos ha ignorado las advertencias de las comunidades de la región, que ya se ven afectadas por las represas de la región, y lo serán aún más.
En septiembre, representantes de las comunidades locales de Camboya, Vietnam y Tailandia, se reunieron en Tailandia y emitieron un comunicado (en inglés) que adjuntamos a continuación. Las comunidades afectadas nunca recibieron una información completa de ninguna de las represas construidas; tampoco fueron consultadas adecuadamente, y nunca se les dio la oportunidad de participar en las decisiones adoptadas con relación a la construcción de la represa proyectada. “Nos obligan a soportar los impactos cada vez más insoportables de estos proyectos de energía hidroeléctrica. Es hora de que nuestros gobiernos escuchen nuestras voces y respeten nuestro derecho a decidir sobre el futuro de nuestros ríos y de nuestras vidas”, declaran.
Las comunidades invitan a organizaciones de todo el mundo a apoyar la declaración que se entregará a los representantes de los gobiernos del Mekong y a quienes tienen un papel decisivo con relación a las represas del Mekong, en un foro público que se organizará a comienzos de noviembre.
Pedimos a las organizaciones dispuestas a apoyar la acción que por favor envíen el nombre y país de la organización hasta el 20 de octubre, a la siguiente dirección electrónica: mekong@wrm.org.uy
¡Los animamos a que distribuyan ampliamente esta convocatoria!
El equipo del WRM
Mekong governments: Listen to the people!
Statement by local people on dams in the Mekong Region
This declaration is also available in Thai and Cambodian language.
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 China.
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.
We have very serious concern about the Don Sahong Dam in Laos, which is located at a critical area for fish migration between the upper and lower Mekong, and will severely reduce fish species and numbers in the whole Mekong river basin. The dam presents special dangers to the Mekong giant catfish and the Irrawaddy Dolphin. The Don Sahong Dam will also negatively affect agriculture and fisheries in the Mekong delta. Despite the destruction that this dam will cause, the Lao Government has not listened to the concerns that have been repeatedly publicly expressed by local people from other Mekong countries.
We have never received full information about any of these dams, never been properly consulted about them, and never been provided the opportunity to participate in decision making about them. We are being forced to bear the increasingly unbearable impacts of these hydropower projects. It is time for our governments to hear our voices and respect our rights to make decision about the future of our rivers and our lives.
We request:
– Direct dialogue between Mekong region governments and peoples’ representatives through public forums: governments must come to the public forum which will be soon be organized and attended by Mekong local peoples’ representatives, listen to us and learn from us about the impacts of the dams.
– Studies to understand the full value of the rivers, and social and environmental impacts of dam projects: these studies must be conducted by independent actors, with full participation of all affected communities, and with enough time to gather the evidence needed to make appropriate decisions about the projects. If the studies show that the negative impacts outweigh the benefits, the dams must be stopped.
– Urgent studies and actions on the Don Sahong dam because of its critical location and status of the project. The full costs and impacts of this project must be made public and recognized by all Mekong region governments.
Once again, we remind our governments that we, the people of the Mekong region, have protected these rivers for generations and must be involved in decision making about them.
Signed by:
Cambodia
- Mr. Long Sochet, Coalition of Cambodia Fishers (CFF), Pursat Province
- Ms. Phoem Sokun, Community Based Organisation (CBO), Kampong Chhnang Province
- Ms. Chheng Kimheng, Community Based Organisation (CBO),Kampong Thom Province
- Mr. Eang Eangnaim, Cambodia Community Fishery, Kampong Cham Province
- Mr. Dam Samnang, Community Based Organisation (CBO), Stung Treng Province
- Ms. Saron Sokhom, Community Based Organisation (CBO), Stung Treng Province
Thailand
- Mr. Nichon Pholchan, Village person, Bungkarn Province
- Mr. Veera Wongsuwan, Village person, Amnart Charoen Province
- Mr. Amnart Trichak, Village person, Nakhonpanom Province
- Mr. Channarong Wongla, Hug Chaingkhan Group, Loei Province
Vietnam
- Mr. Vo Thanh Trang, Village person, An Giang Province
- Mr. Truong Van Khoi, Village person, An Giang Province
- Ms. Nguyen Thi To Nguyen, Village person, An Giang Province
- Mrs. Huynh Kim Duyen, Village person, Ca mau Province
- Mr. Nguyen Hoang Cau, Village person, Ca Mau province
Supporting Organisations
- Community Resources Centre (CRC), Thailand
- Fishery Action Coalition Team (FACT), Cambodia
- Focus on the Global South, Thailand and Cambodia
- Green ID, Vietnam
- International Rivers (IR)
- My Village (Mvi), Cambodia
- Rachna Satrei Organization, Cambodia
- Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance (TERRA)
- Vietnam River Network
- WARECOD, Vietnam
Supporting Individuals
- Mr. Pham Xuan Phu academic An Giang University, Vietnam