KNU divided on Tenasserim dam project?

Tenasserim River, southern Myanmar. Photo: Kwe Ka Lu

Local leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU) in Ler Mu Lah Township have warned that there is a risk of a division between the local people and the KNU if the construction of the Tenasserim Dam continues, according to a Karen News report on May 3.
The KNU’s Saw Thein Su told Karen News that local people do not want the dam to be built, fearing that—to make way for the project—they will be relocated, their villages will be destroyed, and they will lose their lands and plantations.

The KNU’s Mergui-Tavoy District reportedly gave permission to the Italian-Thai Development Company until April to repair the road that accesses the dam site in Moe Ro village, on the lower part of the Tenasserim River.

The construction will reportedly affect 13 Karen villages at the upper dam site and 13 villages at lower dam site.

Karen News quoted villagers as saying that they were prepared to fight against the construction of the dam.

No quote was reported by the KNU’s central executive committee or any of its senior spokespersons.

Karen News story in full: Villagers want KNU protection against dam project