Bangkok Post
Wednesday 18 December 2002

ANALYSIS

CLEARING THE MEKONG
Opponents swim against the tide
There is growing opposition to Chinese-initiated plans to clear the upper
Mekong of shoals and reefs blocking the shipping route. But the opponents
got off to a slow start, when work was already well advanced.
by SARITDET MARUKATAT

Protests by environmentalists and fishermen have thrown the spotlight on a
planned navigation route which proponents say would revitalise the
struggling economies of Mekong countries.

As the clearing of rapids along the course of the Mekong moves downstream
closer to Thailand, the protests of opponents - who include members of the
United Nations-backed Commission on Human Security - have grown louder,
sending a clear message to China, the main supporter of the navigation
route, that it must suspend its plans.

Khon Phee Luang, between Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai, is one
of 11 major reefs earmarked to be ``cleared'' or ``improved'', depending on
who you listen to, because it prevents the passage of large vessels between
southern China and northern Laos.

Larger ships mean increased trade, tourism and development opportunities
for Thailand, China, Burma and Laos. Ships of only 200 tonnes can use the
river at present, and only between Simao in southern China and Chiang Saen.

The four governments would love to see vessels at least twice that size
travelling beyond Chiang Saen to the former Laotian royal capital of Luang
Prabang. This hopefully would help the four countries further integrate and
boost their economies.

Others have a far less rosy view of the plan. They are concerned about
bio-diversity, villagers' way of life and the effects on other peoples
further downstream in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Recently their fight was bolstered by the support of the World Wildlife
Fund, the international conservation organisation with members and
sympathisers around the world, other non-governmental organisations and
even certain politicians.

They have also been encouraged by recent successes in resisting other
projects potentially damaging to the environment and people's way of life,
including the two coal-fired power plants set for Prachuap Khiri Khan, the
permanent closure of the sluice gates at Pak Moon dam in Ubon Ratchathani,
and the Thai-Malaysian gas pipeline passing through Songkhla.

But the battle over the Mekong river could be something else again. The
opponents to the reef clearance are going up against China, on the cusp of
becoming the region's leading economic power with a long history of
brooking no opposition whatsoever to its plans. And Beijing has the strong
backing for this project of Burma and Laos.

China is paying for the clearing of the reefs, which only goes to underline
the importance it places on the navigation route in expanding its trade and
political influence over Southeast Asia.

It also is providing Burma and Laos with advice, trade privileges and
funding to help them balance their cash-strapped economies. And there are
also warming ties with its old nemesis, Vietnam.

The most recent example of the growing emphasis China is placing on
Southeast Asia was in Phnom Penh last month. Chinese Prime Minister Zhu
Rongji used his visit to Cambodia to attend the Asean leaders' meeting to
announce the writing off of a debt put at over $200 million (8.6 billion
baht) owed by Cambodia and to sign a multi-million-dollar aid package with
Prime Minister Hun Sen.

These ``gifts'' place the Cambodian government in a difficult position
should it oppose the Mekong clearance project.

Mr Zhu's visit to Phnom Penh also enabled the first summit specifically of
Mekong countries: Thailand, China, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. This
highlighted the river clearance, and gave environmentalists and academics
from the Mekong countries the opportunity to voice their concerns over the
project and how it would affect the countries downstream.

Yet it appears their views have been ignored by the governments of the four
countries involved, including Thailand's.

Opponents say a better road system made the navigation route unnecessary.
But a road system will be more expensive and will take time to develop.

The renovation of a 250km land route from Chiang Khong to southern China
passing through northern Laos has yet to begin and it will take years
before it is fit for use by laden lorries, even with the support of the
Asian Development Bank. The three countries and the Manila-based bank also
will have to come up with funding for the building of a bridge over the
Mekong from Thailand to Laos to make the route commercially viable. No one
in government seems to know who will take on this responsibility.

As things stand, there is no indication the governments of Thailand, China,
Burma and Laos are paying the least attention to the opponents of the river
scheme. And in some ways the opponents will have to hold themselves partly
to blame. The four governments might not have kept villagers and
non-governmental organisations abreast of developments along the river and
how they will affect them, but the opponents were horribly slow in taking
up the battle against the river clearance.

They were caught napping when the four countries announced in September
2000 that ``all necessary measures should be taken to regulate the major
shoals, rapids and reefs seriously hindering navigation for the purpose of
ensuring the vessels' safe navigation''. And they were still rubbing the
sleep from their eyes when major progress was being made in putting the
project into effect.[End]

**********************************************************
All parties are allowed to post, Camnews does not restrict political
speech.

To subscribe to or unsubscribe from camnews, please email
to camnews-request@cambodia.org with the word "subscribe"
or "unsubscribe" (without the quotes) in the subject line.

For discussions, please subscribe to camdisc-request@cambodia.org
**********************************************************