By Pai Deetes, Phairin Sohsai and Tanya Lee Roberts-Davis On December 17th, Thailand’s Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), in its role as the secretariat of Thai National Mekong Commission (TNMC), announced that it intends to proceed with the implementation of the Prior Consultation (PC) process for the proposed Sanakham Hydropower Project in accordance with…
Read MoreBy Rin Sohsai In early October, the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) sent a letter to Thailand’s Prime Minister expressing serious concerns about the plans for four more hydropower projects to be built on the mainstream of the Mekong River near the Thai-Lao territorial border— namely, the Sanakham, Pak Chom, Ban Kum and…
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By Rin Sohsai and Tanya Lee Roberts-Davis. Originally published in the Bangkok Tribune. Opinion piece highlights are below. In the coming months, Thailand’s updated draft Power Development Plan (PDP 2024-2037) is due to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval. This master plan underwent limited online public hearings in mid-June. Yet to date, the text…
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by Pai Deetes, Phairin Sohsai and Tanya L. Roberts Davis Today, International Rivers is releasing a map illustrating sites of struggle along the Mekong River where communities and allied civil society groups have been able to hold their ground —significantly delaying the planned development of destructive hydropower dams — and sacrifice zones where the build…
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Published in partnership with Open Development Mekong All over the world, women play a critical role in providing, managing and safeguarding water resources. Yet too often, governments ignore women’s lives and perspectives when making decisions about water. Years of experience have shown us that dams and other water infrastructure impact communities in gendered ways. Dam projects…
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On Thursday, October 12, Mekong River defender Niwat Roykaew became the first Thai to receive the Leader on the Frontlines Award from the Asia Foundation, a nonprofit international development organisation based in San Francisco, California. Niwat Roykaew also known as “Kru Thi”, is the chair of the Chiang Khong Conservation Group and director of Mekong…
Read MoreOn September 13, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, or EGAT, signed a Power Purchase Agreement for the controversial Pak Beng Dam on the main stem of the Mekong River. Located in northern Lao PDR, Pak Beng would be built on the Lower Mekong mainstream and is expected to displace people in over 25 villages….
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Originally published in the Bangkok Post by Pai Deetes, “Future of rivers in PM’s hands” In a speech to Parliament on 11 September, the new Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisn, outlined policies, commitments and actions his government will take over the next four years for the “benefit and happiness of all Thai people.” While limited…
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6 องค์กรภาคประชาสังคมประกอบด้วย KTNC Watch, Manushya Foundation, Inclusive Development International, International Rivers, Community Resource Centre (CRC), Thailand, ETOs Watch Coalition ,Fair Finance Thailand, Mekong Watch ได้ออกแถลงการณ์ครบรอบ 5 ปีเหตุการณ์เขื่อนเซเปียน เซน้ำน้อยที่แขวงอัตตะปือแตก เมื่อวันที่ 23 กรกฎาคม 2018 โดยเขื่อนเสริม (Saddle D) ของโครงการไฟฟ้าพลังน้ำเซเปียน-เซน้ำน้อยในลาวพังทลายคร่าชีวิตผู้คน 71 คน ไร้ที่อยู่อาศัยนับพัน น้ำท่วมบ้านเรือนและหมู่บ้าน ห้าปีหลังจากเหตุการณ์อันน่าสลดใจนี้ ผู้รอดชีวิตยังคงไม่ได้รับการชดเชยหรือการเยียวยาที่เพียงพอ และยังคงต้องทนทุกข์ทรมานจากผลกระทบของภัยพิบัติ องค์กรภาคประชาสังคมกำลังเรียกร้องให้บริษัทและรัฐบาลที่เกี่ยวข้อง รวมถึงบริษัทก่อสร้างคือ SK Ecoplant และผู้พัฒนาและบริหารบริษัทเซเปียนเซน้ำน้อยพาวเวอร์( Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company (PNPC)) ตลอดจนรัฐบาลลาวและสาธารณรัฐเกาหลี ซึ่งเป็นผู้ให้ทุนสนับสนุนความช่วยเหลือด้านการพัฒนาที่เป็นทางการ(Official…
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Yujung Shin (+82 010 8452 0108, yjshin@jihyanglaw.com) Pillkyu Hwang (hopenvision@naver.com) or Youngah Park (mashil049@gmail.com) Emilie Pradichit (emilie@manushyafoundation.org) Joint statement in Thai On July 23, 2018, the auxiliary dam (Saddle D) of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project in Laos collapsed, killing 71 people, displacing thousands, and flooding homes and villages….
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By Pianporn Deetes and Gary Lee As media attention focused on the dissolution of the parliament to prepare for the upcoming national election, news that a Power Purchase Agreement with Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) was signed for the Pak Lay dam slipped by without making much of a ripple. Gulf Energy, a Thai…
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