Lesson learned from the controversial Pak Mun dam
Photo: From above the dam
A
local field trip of Rotary Peace Fellows batch 14th brought me to
the controversial Pak Mun dam in Obon Ratchathani province, Thailand. During
this visit, it has broadened my new perspectives in many ways, especially on
how local Thai people view the benefits of Pak Mun dam very different from those
of researchers and scientists. This helped me deeper my understanding the
2-side of problems. Allowed me to share with you some of my observations.
First of all, I am very impressed by the
never give up spirit of the local people living downstream of Pak Mun dam. They
have been negotiating and fighting with the Thai government for almost 24 years
to ask for the opening of the sluice gate all year round or to decommission the
dam permanently in making ways for fish to migrate to/from the Mekong river. The
Mun river once used to be the main source of fish supply to local people, has
undergone major changes in the last few decades after dam construction. The small number of fishes caught in the river
forced many young people to leave their villages, and head to big cities. Asking
if there are any positive changes they observed in their community after the
dam was built, and the answer I received was “None”. This surprised me very
much. I then started to question myself, why was many local people so concerned
about the fishes when there are hundred of alternative jobs they can engage. I
then realized what local people here need is not a “development” but “Sustainable
living”. Fish means happiness to them,
and these answers touch deep into my heart. Now, I understand how life is linked
to the environment and basic needs.
Photo: Fish ladder of Pak Mun dam
The next day, I had a chance to listen to
the explanation of researchers and scientists from Obon Rachathani University
in regards to the management of Pak Mun dam. As I myself is also a researcher, I
was not so surprised with the answers I got from them. The Pak Mun dam is a
multi-purpose dam, which mean its function is not only for electricity
generation, but also supply water resources through irrigation to agricultural
lands, and to keep water resources to be used during dry season. Many local
people living upstream of the dam are in favor of having dam, because it helps
them to increase their agricultural production. I personally believe that there
are many good benefits from the dam development, but at the same time, it also
has many adverse impacts to the ecology of river system and people livelihood.
The researchers and scientists should dare to raise those issues to the public,
so that the issues will be raised, and mitigation is proposed accordingly.
Photo: "No Dam" message on the wall of Pak Mun dam
Looking back to the fast paced development of dam in my country, I could not help, but to think, how much dam
development in Laos is considered too much. The government plans to turn Laos
into batteries of ASEAN, and many rivers in Laos are now under investigation
for dam development project. I know that we always gain one and lose one from
the development project, but can we make it fair or close to the fairness for
everyone? Development is sometime of what we want, but will that last for long and benefit our future generation? That is a question we need to think about it carefully.
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