IT'S MORE THAN 4-AND-A-HALF THOUSAND KILOMETERS LONG, AND SOME 65 MILLION PEOPLE IN SIX COUNTRIES
DEPEND ON IT FOR FOOD.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MEKONG RIVER, WHICH IS SET TO BECOME A POWER SOURCE FOR SOUTHEAST
ASIA WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MASSIVE HYDROPOWER DAM.
BUT NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY ABOUT THE PROJECT.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ITS EFFECTS ON THE RIVER'S ECOSYSTEM - AND VILLAGERS'
LIVES.
I SPOKE TO REPORTER MONY SAY IN CAMBODIA ABOUT THE PROJECT.
PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPENDING ON FISHING AND FARMING ALONG THE RIVER, THEY FEEL THAT THEIR LIVELIHOOD
WILL BE AFFECTED IF THE DAM IS TO BE CONSTRUCTED AS SCHEDULED.
THIS RIVER IS ONE OF THE MAIN TRIBUTARIES OF THE MEKONG SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.
BECAUSE THE FISH MIGRATE TO THE RIVER UP-AND-DOWN THIS IMPORTANT TRIBUTARY.
NOT ONLY THE FISH BUT ALSO THE FOREST PRODUCTS BECAUSE WHEN THE DAM IS BUILT IT WILL FLOOD
A LARGE AREA OF FOREST THAT PEOPLE DEPEND ON.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN STUNG TRENG PROVINCE ARE ABOUT TO BE UPROOTED.
THEY LIVE ALONG THE SESAN RIVER, A TRIBUTARY OF THE MEKONG AND THE FUTURE SITE OF A HYDROELECTRIC
DAM.
VILLAGERS HAVE PROTESTED THE PROJECT, A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN CAMBODIA, CHINA AND VIETNAM.
AFTER THE APPROVAL, THE PEOPLE ALONG THE RIVER ARE WORRIED ABOUT RESETTLEMENT.
WE DO NOT WANT TO MOVE TO A NEW LOCATION BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO START A NEW LIFE
WITH A NEW RICEFIELD AND NEW PLANTING.
THE PROTESTERS WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO PUT OFF CONSTRUCTION TO STUDY THE FULL ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT OF THE DAMN I REPORT BY THE US NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ALSO CALLED FOR A REASSESSMENT
IT WARNED THAT THE PLANNED DAMN DEVELOPMENT IN THE MEQUON RIVER BASIN COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC
IMPACT ON THE RIVERS FISH AND BIODIVERSITY.
AND WHAT ARE THE GOVERNMENTS ANSWERS TO THESE CONCERNS?
WHO DOES THE GOVERNMENT SAY THIS DAMN WILL BENEFIT?
WELL THE GOVERNMENT SO FAR SAID THAT NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THIS PROVINCE - THE STUNG
TROONG PROVINCE - WILL BENEFIT BUT ALSO SOME PEOPLE CAN GET JOBS FROM THE COMPANIES.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL BENEFIT THE WHOLE NATION AS THE COUNTRY
BADLY NEEDS ELECTRICITY BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO IMPORT THE POWER FROM THE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
LIKE THAILAND AND VIETNAM.
AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THESE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA WITH THE DAM IS BEING
BUILT?
THERE IS A HUGE AREA THAT IS RESERVED FOR THE RESERVOIR DAM.
THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ARE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE RESERVOIR AREA TO MAKE WAY FOR THE DAM
CONSTRUCTION.
IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT THE PROJECT WON'T GO FORWARD THAT THESE PEOPLE'S VOICES AGAINST
IT WILL HAVE SOME KIND OF EFFECT?
SO IT LOOKS VERY UNLIKELY THAT THE DAM IS TO BE STOPPED OR DELAYED.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS BELIEVE THIS DAM ALONE WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT UP TO 100 THOUSAND PEOPLE
-- NOT JUST THEIR FISHERIES, BUT THE RICE AND VEGETABLES THEY GROW.
VILLAGERS SEE NO ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR THEMSELVES.
"THE GROWTH IS JUST FOR THOSE BIG GUYS IN THE CITY, BUT THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE NOTHING.
IT BENEFITS ONLY THE URBAN PEOPLE, NOT THE RURAL ONES."
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WILL BE ADDRESSED.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF THIS?
WHO'S FOOTING THE BILL?
ACCORDING TO AN ESTIMATE, IT WOULD COST MORE THAN $780 MILLION DOLLARS.
BUT OF COURSE IT'S A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN THREE COUNTRIES.
BUT THE ONE THAT WILL PAY THE MOST IS [THE] CAMBODIAN COMPANY, WHICH IS OWNED BY A CAMBODIAN
TYCOON HERE.
AND OUR THANKS TO REPORTER MONY SAY IN PNOM PENH.
THE SESAN RIVER DAM IS ONE OF 20 DAMS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN CAMBODIA, MOST WITH HELP FROM
CHINESE COMPANIES.