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Dawei Project Threatens Livelihood of Locals, Claims Ethnic Women’s Organization

The Dawei Special Economic Zone is threatening local peoples’ way of life, according to a report by the Tavoyan Women’s Union. The DSEZ, a joint venture of Thailand and Burma, has faced controversy since it’s inception with local and international human rights organisations expressing concerns over the project’s affect on the lives of people living in the zone.

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PR: Theun–Hinboun Power Company’s Monitoring System Still Shrouded in Secrecy

In May 2014, the General Manager of the Theun – Hinboun Power Company (THPC), Mr. Robert Allen, was appointed as chair of the Lao Hydropower Developers’ Working Group. The Working Group, which is a platform for dam companies established by the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, aims to support companies to “develop hydropower that meets environmental and social best practices” and “improve environmental and social risk management.” Yet, despite Mr. Allen assuming a leadership position in the Working Group, his own company has yet to follow international standards and principles of accountability.

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Mong Ton residents call on spirits to protect Salween river

Shan Herald Agency for News About 150 villagers, community leaders and monks in Mong Ton township, southern Shan State held a blessing ceremony to protect the Salween river on Monday morning at the Pithakat Hongtam temple. Sai Nong, a villager from Mong Ton said, “We made merit to ward away bad things from the Salween. […]

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Forced evictions cause misery for Phu Phan mountain farmers, Thailand

Tanasak Phosrikun Since Thailand’s coup in May 2014, the military regime of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has embarked on a mission to find and evict “encroachers” on national forest that includes national reserve forests (NRFs) and protected areas (PAs). The NCPO has released the Forestry Master Plan that allows reforestation after […]

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Hotels Planned for Untouched Archipelago

The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) has given the green light for hotel projects in Kyunphila, Ngaman and Boywe islands in Myeik Archipelago, Tanintharyi Region, according to the Myeik Division of the Hotels and Tourism Ministry. “The land measurement tasks are already taking place. The Myanmar company will operate in partnership with a foreign counterpart,” said an official from the Myeik Division.

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The politics of place naming reaches the Salween River

The debate about the power of naming is long-running and contentious, engaging citizens and colonizers, academics and activists.1 “South” of China, “East” of India, Southeast Asia were names that came primarily from people not native to these regions who imagined these areas as a region through acts of war and nation building.