Thailand hosts event to mark International Day of Action against Dams

CHIANG RAI, March 16 (TNA) -- Networks of activists and civil society groups from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand hold an event to mark the International Day of Action against Dams in Chiang Rai on Tuesday. Delegations from the Mekong River Basin countries discussed the impact of hydropower dam development on the river in Chiang Rai's Chiang Khong district. Youths joined force to mark International Day on Action for Rivers designed to raise awareness about the impact of destructive water development projects. They presented drawings, paintings and essays expressing their thoughts on this subject. At the event, there will be representatives of local people as well as academics from Cambodia and Vietnam Niwat Roikaew, head of the local environmentalist group, "Rak Chiang Khong" (“Love Chiang Khong”), said the annual activity was meant to call for river protection, denounce hydropower dam projects and the navigation channel-improvement project. The participants of this grass root level event asked every party to contribute in the conservation of the Mekong River, considered a lifeline of millions, he said. In the past 20 years, mismanagement, destructive development projects and wasteful exploitation of natural resources had affected the Mekong River Basin, Niwat added. On the occasion of International Day of Action against Dams, the group issued a declaration demanding swift actions from the government against such projects including the removal of the river’s rapids and shoals. (TNA)