Karen Message: No Big Dams

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On March 14, 2013, about 2,000 internally displaced people and villagers from the Wei Gyi dam area gathered at Ei Htu Hta Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp on the Salween riverbank to mark the International Day of Action Against Dams and for Rivers in an event organized by Karen Rivers Watch (KRW) and its local member Salween Eyes (SEE).

The event was organized to raise local voices about current and future impacts and included environmental activists from other areas. The ceremony was also attended by community leaders from Dawei, who are resisting massive development projects in their area, including dams.

As part of the ceremonies, Christian, Buddhist, and Animist religious rituals were conducted. Afterwards, participants shouted the following slogans:

  • Our priority need is: Peace, Peace, Peace!
  • What we want is: No dams on the Salween River!
  • Why we are calling for this: Our Salween River must flow free!
  • All planned dams on the Salween River must be stopped!

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