Chers amis,
Les communautés de la région du Mékong du Sud-est asiatique, qui dépendent pour leur subsistance du fleuve Mékong et de bien d’autres fleuves et lacs, ont besoin urgent de votre soutien.
Les barrages déjà construits sur le cours principal du Mékong et sur d’autres fleuves les ont fortement modifiés, au point de mettre en danger la vie, les moyens d’existence et l’économie de toute la région.
Le gouvernement du Laos prévoit maintenant de construire le barrage de Don Sahong, situé dans une zone d’importance critique pour la migration des poissons entre le haut et le bas Mékong. Le barrage fera diminuer considérablement les espèces et les populations de poissons, et touchera aussi l’agriculture et la pêche dans le delta du Mékong. Or, malgré la destruction que le barrage va causer, le gouvernement du Laos n’a pas écouté les plaintes des communautés, déjà touchées par les barrages existants et qui le seront encore davantage.
En septembre, des représentants des communautés locales du Cambodge, du Vietnam et de la Thaïlande se sont réunis en Thaïlande, et ils ont publié une déclaration (en anglais) que vous trouverez ci-dessous. Les communautés affectées n’ont jamais reçu d’information suffisante sur aucun des barrages déjà construits, elles n’ont jamais été consultées de façon appropriée, et n’ont jamais eu la possibilité de participer à la prise de décisions concernant la construction du barrage prévu. « On nous oblige à subir les effets de moins en moins supportables de ces projets hydro-électriques. Il est temps que nos gouvernements nous écoutent et respectent notre droit de prendre une décision quant à l’avenir de nos fleuves et de nos vies », déclarent-ils.
Ils invitent les organisations du monde entier à adhérer à la déclaration qui sera remise aux représentants du gouvernement du Mékong et aux responsables du barrage au cours d’un forum public qui sera organisé au début du mois de novembre.
Si vous souhaitez adhérer à cette initiative, vous pourrez le faire en envoyant le nom et le pays de votre organisation, jusqu’au 20 octobre prochain, à l’adresse suivante : Mekong@wrm.org.uy.
N’hésitez pas à donner la plus large diffusion à ce message !
L’équipe du 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