Kingdom of Cambodia
National, Religion, King
.
Sesan Protection Network, Ratanakiri and Stung Treng
Respect to:
Samdach Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia
We, together over 55,000 ethnic minority people living along the Se San River from Ratanakiri and Stung Treng Provinces have been affected from the Yali hydropower dam construction in Vietnam. We would like to send you this petition describing the real situation. From 1996 to present, we have faced the following problems:
1. Several times flooding has occurred
2. The river dried during construction
3. There have been irregular water fluctuations
4. Water quality has changed
5. There has been a loss of fish species and fish habitations (An increase in sand has filled the water pools)
6. It has impacted the peoples cultural and traditional system
7. Social infrastructure has been destroyed
8. There has been a loss of river biodiversity in the basin
9. A number of people have abandoned their villages because they can no longer rely on the river
10. Agricultural production has become difficult because of water fluctuations
11. During the dams construction, rice fields and farm fields were flooded
12. There has been a loss of fishing, gold panning and vegetation activities along the river
13. During dam construction, human and animal lives were lost
14. There has been a gradual loss of wild vegetables living along the river
15. Property, equipment, materials, houses, livestock, etc. were lost
16. There has been a loss of animal species that rely on the river
17. The nature of the river has changed In regards to the problems mentioned above, we together would like to request the
following solutions:
1. Your help in restoring the natural flow of the river
2. Please have the government help stop further dam construction
3. We want the rivers benefit to be shared between affected communities and dam builders
4. Please have the government find appropriate measures to solve the problem for the Sesan communities for the past,
present and future times.
5. Request to dam builders to provide life insurance to the people living downstream of the hydropower dam
6. Before decision making on projects, a public consultation process must be done with participation from local people in
the region.
7. We request that the government respond to all of our past and present requests
According to the issues mentioned above, we hope that you, Samdach Hun Sen, will help to find solutions. We together would to bless you with success and happiness.
Ratanakiri, 5 May 2005
Signed by representatives of dam affected ethnic communities
CC: Ratanakiri Provincial Governors; Stung Treng Provincial Governors; H.E. Lim Kean Hor, Minister of Water Resources; Cambodia National Mekong Committee; H.E. Mok Mareth, Minister of Environment; H.E. Suy Sem, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy; all government administration offices along the Sesan River; all commune councils along the Sesan River; the Standing Committee on Dams and Canals along the borders.
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