Bangkok Post, 30 April 2004

MEKONG RIVER NAVIGATION
First phase of clearance over, no more blasting approved

The first phase of work to open the Mekong river to commercial shipping
with China has been completed, and work for the season would end, a senior
official said.

Sub-Lt Preecha Phetwong, secretary of the Joint Committee on Coordination
of Commercial Navigation on the Lancang-Mekong river, said blasting of the
Khai rapids on the Burmese-Lao border and the installation of 77
navigational aids on a stretch of the river from China's Yunnan province to
Chiang Khong district in Chiang Rai province was complete.

The Khon Pi Luang rapids in Chiang Khong is the only remaining white-water
in Thailand still marked for blasting. Other reef clearance was suspended
pending agreement on border demarcation with Laos.

Sub-Lt Preecha said Khon Pi Luang villagers were upset about the planned
clearance. ''It's not about technical problems any more. Everything we
touch has become an issue,'' he said.

Clearing of the navigation channel, to enable passage of cargo shipping up
to 100 tonnes was agreed three years ago with the signing of a commercial
navigation agreement by Burma, China, Laos and Thailand. Work began in 2002.

Its first phase included blasting of 21 rapids and reefs along the route,
including Khon Pi Luang, and installation of about 100 navigation aids.

Villagers are opposing the clearance, saying it will change the river
forever and adversely affect their lives.

Chainarong Sretthachau, director of the Southeast Asia Rivers Network, said
officials should have consulted local people before implementing the work,
because the issue had become sensitive.

''Local people have lost a lot of their trust because they see many
development projects occurring in the area that may affect their lives,''
he said.

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