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RWESA
- Rivers Watch East and Southeast Asia
Call
to all agencies involved in dam-building in East and Southeast Asia upon
the release of the World Commission on Dams final report
On July 1,
2000, Rivers Watch East and SE Asia (RWESA) was formed, a network of peoples
organizations and NGOs working to stop the funding of dam projects in
East and SE Asia and to restore rivers to the communities who depend on
them. Dams have brought about the destruction of rivers and the lives
and livelihoods of villagers in our region. Dams undermine the rights
of people, their community and culture as well as destroying the environment,
all of which are basic needs for their survival.
At the time
of our formation, we released the Pak Mun Declaration, demanding a moratorium
on dam construction, decommissioning of existing dams and reparations
for dam-affected peoples.
We welcome
the final report of the World Commission on Dams. The report shows the
devastating impacts of dam projects on communities and the environment,
and also shows how dams have failed to deliver their projected benefits.
However, the report does not go far enough in its recommendations.
In the light
of the report and recommendations of the World Commission on Dams, and
drawing on the Pak Mun Declaration, our demands are as follows:
- All agencies
involved in dam-building in East and SE Asia, including governments,
the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan Bank for International
Cooperation, China Development Bank, bilateral aid agencies and companies
should immediately and comprehensively adopt the recommendations of
the World Commission on Dams, and should integrate them into their relevant
policies. In particular, as recommended by the WCD, no project should
proceed without the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples,
and without the demonstrable public acceptance of all those who would
be affected by the project.
- Independent,
transparent and participatory reviews of all planned and ongoing dam
projects should be undertaken, in accordance with the WCD's recommendations.
While such reviews are taking place, project preparation and construction
should be halted. Such reviews should establish whether the respective
dams comply, as a minimum, with the recommendations of the WCD. If they
do not, projects should be modified accordingly or stopped altogether.
This is especially important for existing projects in East and SE Asia
that are already wreaking havoc upon the lives of millions of people,
such as Bakun and Selangor Dams in Malaysia, Three Gorges Dam in China,
and San Roque Dam in the Philippines.
- Governments,
dam-building companies, dam industry consultants, the World Bank, private
banks and the Asian Development Bank, who are all responsible for the
havoc wreaked upon our communities by large dams, must make proper reparations
to dam-affected communities. The restoration of livelihood and land
compensation for relocated communities must be at the core of any reparation
plans.
- We demand
a moratorium on large dam construction in East and SE Asia until the
recommendations of the WCD have been implemented by all dam-building
agencies, and until reparations to dam-affected communities are being
undertaken.
Bangkok,
November 24, 2000
Endorsed
by:
Australia
James
Arvanitakis
AID/WATCH
Cambodia
Herman
Brouwer
Church World Service Cambodia
Kong Socheat
Church World Service - Kompong Thom Province
Vann Piseth
Culture and Environment Preservation Association
Chhith Sam
Ath
NGO Forum on Cambodia
Jack Hurd
WWF Conservation Program in Cambodia
Hong Kong
Kata
Lee
Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples
Gerard Greenfield
Globalization Monitor
Sophia Woodman
Human Rights in China
Kevin Li
IRN/Greenpeace China
India
The
Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE), Manipur
Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), Manipur
Indonesia
Anung
Karyadi
WALHI - Friends of the Earth, Indonesia
Arianto Sangaji
Yayasan Tanah Merdeka
Japan
FUJISAWA,
Yukiko
Africa Japan Forum
APEC Monitor
NGO Network
A SEED JAPAN
MATSUZAKI,
Yuriko and OOMAE, Yuiko
Asian Womens Center
FUJIWARA,
Toshihide
Campaign for Future of Filipino Children (CFFC)
Ikuko Matsumoto
Friends of the Earth-Japan
Doi Toshiyuki
Fukuoka NGO Forum on the Asian Development Bank (FNA)
IIDA, Tetsunari
Green Energy Law Network
MIYAZAKI,
Naoko
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
OHBAYASHI,
Mika
Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies
ISHIDA, Kyoko
Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES)
KAWAKAMI,
Sonoko
Japan NGO Network on Indonesia
ASANO, Yuko
Jubilee Kansai Network
Jubilee2000
Fukuoka
Satoru Matsumoto
Mekong Watch-Japan
Masahito
Ujiie
National Dam Opposition Network Japan and
Sagami River Camp-in-Symposium
ODA Reform
Network
Toshiko Niikura
Rivers!Japan
Sarawak Campaign
Commitee
TERAO, Terumi
Ex-professor at Nagoya Institute of Technology
ASAMI, Yasuhito
Associate Professor
Hitotsubashi University
KUSAGO, Takayoshi
Associate Professor
Hokkaido University
TODA, Kiyoshi
Associate Professor
Faculty of Environmental Studies
Nagasaki University
Malaysia
Jessica
Binwani
Consumers Association of Penang and
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia)
Sam Hui
SOS Selangor (Save Our Sungai Selangor)
Dr Kua Kia
Soong
SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia)
Third World
Network, Malaysia
Nepal
Sarba
Raj Khadka
Rural Reconstruction Nepal
Norway
Elisabeth
F. Olsen
FIVAS
Philippines
Joan
Carling
Cordillera Peoples' Alliance, Philippines
Sri Lanka
Hemantha
Withanage
Environment Foundation Ltd.
Taiwan
Sam
Hsu
Radiation Safety and Protection Association and Taiwan Watch Institute
Lily Hsueh
Taiwan Environmental Action Network (TEAN)
Thailand
Patrick
Pierce
Earth Rights International
Asst. Professor
Dr Kasian Tejapira
Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University
Prasittiporn
Karn-Onsri
Friends of the People
Sugin Katasila
Group of Villagers Affected by Hua Na Dam, Thailand
Group of
Villagers to Protect the Yom River (Kaeng Sua Ten), Thailand
Chainarong
Sretthachau
SEARIN, Thailand
Pranee Nonchan
Villager Committee to Restore the Mun River, Thailand
Supoj Yaowalee
Villager Committee to Protect the Rub Ror River Basin, Thailand
Hannarong
Yaowalers
Wildlife Fund Thailand
United
States of America
Leslie
Sewell
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)
Aviva Imhof
International Rivers Network
Vietnam
Tuong
Vi Pham
Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES)
Elizabeth
Toder
PACT Viet Nam
Eric Coull
World Wide Fund for Nature
Hoang Phuong
Thao
WWF Indochina Programme
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