Kachins in Delhi submit anti-Irrawaddy dam letter to Chinese Embassy

Chinese embassy in Indian capital New Delhi. Photo: Kachin News Group.

With the anti-dam movement snowballing, India based ethnic Kachin people today also submitted an appeal opposing the Irrawaddy Myitsone dam project in Northern Burma, Kachin State, to the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi the capital of India.

On the heels of activists in UK, Singapore and Malaysia, India-based Kachin people have sent the appeal to stop the construction of Myitsone hydropower project in Northern Burma. The letter with signatures from over 70 Kachins and activists showing solidarity, living in New Delhi, handed it to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, around 1:30 pm. The appeal was addressed to Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and submitted through Ambassador Mr. Zhang Yan by two Kachin ethnic community leaders.

“Just like the Kachin ethnics no one likes this project and are opposed to the construction,” said Andrewshin, a committee member of Kachin National Organization (KNO) who delivered the appeal letter to the Embassy.

The letter translated into Chinese and English language explains the terrible impact the dam will have on the local residents, including thousands of people, who are likely to be displaced and millions living downstream of the project, who will die from flooding if the dam collapses located as it is less than 100 kilometres from the Sagaing fault line.

Inside Burma, Kachin activists are continuing to campaign against the Myitsone dam project by distributing leaflets and painting graffiti.

From January 18 to 19 Myitkyina, in capital of Kachin State the Zonal Kachin Baptist Church under the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) and 59 sub-division churches together held a 24-hour non-stop prayer service to halt the dam construction.

“The hydro power project will only benefit the Burmese military junta, and Kachin people will get nothing. It will only make us suffer and will destroy our culture and heritage,” said Andrewshin.

Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur based All Kachin Students Youth Union (AKSYU) handed the appeal letter to the Chinese Embassy addressed to Ambassador Mr. Liu Jian, said the organization office in-charge Marip Gum Zet.

Organized by AKSYU at least 116 Kachin and other ethnics from Burma in Kuala Lumpur signed the appeal letter which was handed to the Chinese Embassy on January 26, he said.

“This is an important cultural heritage for us handed down by our forefathers, we need to protect it,” said Gum Zet.

“At first China should discuss the project with us because this is our place, instead of working with the junta,” he added.

The hydropower construction at Myitsone in upper Irrawaddy River, at the beginning of the longest river in Burma the Irrawaddy, officially started last year on December 21, led by the junta, China Power Investment Cooperation (CPI) and Asia World Company despite local people’s protests and the danger to residents who depend on their livelihood from the river.

Source :http://kachinnews.com/News/Kachins-in-Delhi-submit-anti-Irrawaddy-dam-letter-to-Chinese-Embassy.html