Photo: Geoffrey Cain/IRIN Floating river communities may be forced to relocate when dam construction gets under way in Cambodia's highlands Over the past year Phnom Penh has been considering several multi-million dollar dam projects around the lush Cardamom mountains and in other regions which threaten the country's wildlife and, if implemented, could lead to the displacement of thousands of people.
“The prime minister has been pushing to build these dams very quickly,” said Seng Bunra, Cambodia’s country director for Conservation International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working to protect rainforests worldwide. “'We need to make sure the feasibility studies are not rushed, and that care is taken in their construction.” Bunra is especially concerned about a hydropower project on the Areng river, which he says could flood 20,000 hectares and displace some 1,500 primarily indigenous people. The government has appeared to be unwilling to discuss the feasibility and environmental effects of the dam, he said. “They [the government] had a research team studying the feasibility of the Areng project,” Bunra told IRIN, “but they just… kept it private, and then stopped studying it.” Lack of public consultation The World Commission on Dams (WCD) [see:], which sets international hydropower standards, says construction locations should be determined through a public consultation process. A joint report by the NGOs International Rivers (IR) and the Rivers Coalition in Cambodia (RCC) also concluded that “hydropower development in Cambodia has proceeded in the absence of meaningful public consultation and an overall lack of transparency in the decision-making process.” The report points out that Prime Minister Hun Sen and his cabinet have repeatedly made decisions regarding hydropower “behind closed doors”. “We're still not certain on the actual roles of the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, and the National Electricity Authority,” said Ngy San, director of the RCC. “We're concerned the government has not been releasing this information publicly, but the prime minister seems to be the main decision-maker regardless.” Representatives from the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy were unavailable for comment. Photo: Geoffrey Cain/IRIN Many people could lose their livelihoods if new hydropower dams are built China's influence Beijing Olympics will be hard act to follow The 2008 Olympics in Beijing ended Sunday after entertaining the world for 17 magnificent days. The Games featured scores of uplifting and stunning feats on the track, in the water (especially by America’s Michael Phelps with his unprecedented eight gold medals) and in other venues. Among the highlights: Bob Costas and the crews at NBC and its related networks. With Costas leading the way, NBC did a wonderful job of bringing the Olympics’ pageantry, pomp and performances into U.S. homes day after day, night after night.. And viewers, judging by the high viewer ratings, embraced these events. The U.S. men’s indoor volleyball squad. It defeated Brazil, world champions since 2002, for the gold medal, while team members and Coach Hugh McCutcheon coped with the death of his father-in-law, who was killed at a tourist attraction in China. Usain Bolt and the Jamaican sprinters. Bolt’s electrifying world records in the 100- and 200-meter dashes led the tiny nation’s domination of those events on the men’s and women’s sides. Sanya Richards, for her gritty final leg on America’s victorious 1,600-meter women’s relay track team. Underdogs and their surprise performances. These included a gold medal by the U.S. women’s soccer team and a silver medal for America’s water polo squad on the men’s side. The Chinese athletes (with a few exceptions). They won the most gold medals (51, to America’s 36), especially wowing audiences with their diving skills. There were some problems at the Beijing Olympics. The Chinese clamped down on all protests, and controversy still lingers over the true ages of their female gymnasts. The U.S. boxing team fell apart, the U.S. women’s softball juggernaut lost its gold-medal game, and both of America’s 400-meter relay track squads dropped their batons and didn’t qualify for the finals. One fact became clear after Sunday night’s gorgeous closing ceremony in Beijing: The 2012 Olympics in London will have a hard act to follow. =================================================================================== ----- Original Message ---- From: เดช <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 1:41:41 AM Subject: vonglokruta. get rid of ur undevelop mind disease. why cambodians are so barbaric pple ?? preah chao aduljadej is so pleased to claim preah vihear and angkor wat, and he should. how can preah vihear' achitect cultural heritage belonged to the barbaric pple? peter wong kampuchun is khmer born but he has a vietnamese heart, it is his decision to love the vietnamese to destroy cambodia. a lot of generals in cambodia do. camdisc sucks. On Aug 27, 10:06 am, Vonglokruta Khema <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > ----- Forwarded Message ---- > From: Vonglokruta Khema <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:06:35 PM > Subject: Re: ah youn ah kampujun peal,& pak pouk vea,kam puj achor chhean > pean ho chi minh > > ah CHOR YOUN CHLEAN PEAN,KAMPUJCHUN > CHOR HO CHI MINH &PAK POUK VEA,AH CHOR SI CHHKER... > > > BEWARE of AH YOUN VIET CONG, Vietnamese communists agents at this forum : > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 2.Neak kampuchea <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > 3.. > 4 > 5 > AH !KAMPUJCHUN( PEAL?)AH CHOR YOUN CHLEAN PEAN PARTY, > INDOCHINA COMMUNIST FEDERATION,AH YOUN HO CHI MINH. > > KHMER KRORK PROAM KNEA,KHMER ROAS. > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: krakmo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008 1:46:23 AM > Subject: Re: Let's Build Digital Library Together > > It's just an idiot idea coming from an individu fooling drunk in mind after > so called "its victory national election". > We, khmer, have not regarded with this man. > A bas ce type IDIOT. > krakmo > > From: BoangThom បងធំ > Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2008 8:53 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Let's Build Digital Library Together > > I think all the young generation should learn also the Vietnamese > ,because in the future this language will become an official > language in Cambodia ! រីឯ ភាសា ឃីមែយើងវិញ > មិនចាំបាច់ ទៅខំរៀននាំតែខាតពេលវេលា ទេ ពីព្រោះវាស្ទើតែគ្មានប្រយោជន៍ > អ្វីទាំងអស់ > នៅលើឆាកអន្តរកជាតិ > > បងធំ > > > On 8/17/08, Sokphal Kchao <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > "English is no longer a language. It is, instead, a tool, a weapon, a > vehicle. A tool to build a stronger society, a weapon to combat > poverty and ignorance, and a vehicle for those who possess it to > travel anywhere they choose throughout the world and be understood and > understand." (U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Joseph A. Mussomeli) > > Listening is critical to language learning. > There is no reason why Cambodian students everywhere could not have > access to English listening material on demand like other student in > developed world. > > Therefore, the mission is to set up an English audio/video library at > every secondary school to provide the student listening access on > demand 24/7.. > > It is a digital library of English audio and video clips stored in > portable media player that can be "checked out" anytime. > > Please contact me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you would like to > participate in any role. > > Together we will make it a reality. > > Every gift counts. Every gift is appreciated. > > Thanks in advance. > > Sokphal Kchao- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - To counteract spiralling electricity prices (some of the highest in the world, according to the World Bank), the government has embraced a development plan tapping into Cambodia's vast river resources, with annual funding from Beijing (US$600 million) that almost equals the total of Western donor monetary aid. In April, Chinese Foreign Minister Wen Jiabao promised $1 billion in aid to Cambodia specifically for two hydropower projects, which have since materialised into the Stung Tatay and Stung Russey Chrum Krom dams. Unlike aid from Western governments and NGOs, Chinese aid comes with no good governance or transparency strings attached. Premier Hun Sen praised China after an earlier $600 million aid package in 2006 for not “interfering with the internal affairs of Cambodia”. However, whether Chinese companies will build dams that meet international environmental and social standards remains questionable, says the IR report China's largest hydropower firm, Sinohydro Corporation, will build the $280 million Kamchay dam inside a major national park, potentially flooding 2,000 hectares of protected forest, the report warns. Sinohydro, owned by the Chinese government, was “downgraded” in 2006 after a government review - for its poor performance and for unspecified safety and environmental accidents - the IR report notes. The details of many hydropower contracts - particularly Sinohydro's - remain unknown. Cambodian lawmakers were asked to endorse the Sinohydro deal in 2006 without even having had access to the contract, according to the Cambodia Daily newspaper. Environmental concerns Another dam project under way on the Atay river threatens endangered Siamese crocodiles, which rely on the river's seasonal levels for breeding. Various species of turtle, fish, and birds are also at risk, according to Flora and Fauna International, an NGO that protects two wildlife sanctuaries in the Cardamom Mountains. Local diets depend particularly on fish, of which several species may face significantly reduced populations, according to Flora and Fauna. The Atay dam will flood 3,560 hectares of protected forest in the Phnom Samkok Wildlife Sanctuary, and 5,193 hectares in total, according to a recent assessment by the Chinese Danang Corporation. “In terms of conservation, it's a lot of land,” Bunra told IRIN. “We cannot stop the development projects in these areas, but we can only ask the government and companies to reduce the environmental impact.” Government’s stance The official stance of the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy states that the Cardamom Mountains consist of over one million hectares, making 5,000 hectares worth sacrificing to lower energy costs in Cambodia. Thorn Kimhong, who directs the Cardamom natural protected areas for the Ministry of Environment, said the Atay dam was necessary. “The dams must be built,” he told IRIN. “We need it for lower energy prices and for developing Cambodia.” But for the thousands of residents who could be displaced, uncertainty lies ahead. ================================================================================== --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. 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