Aye Yar Waddy

54 – 56 University Avenue
Bahan Township Rangoon
August 11,2011
lrrawaddy Appeal
Irrawaddy, ‘the great river,” is the main waterway of Burma. It starts in the Kachin State in the north as
the confluence of the Maykha and Malikha rivers and follows a steady course to the south where it
disperses into a network of streams and rivulets that feed the fertile delta before finally flowing into the
Indian Ocean. It is the most significant geographical feature of our country, the grand natural highway, a
prolific source of food, the home of varied water flora and fauna, the supporter of traditional modes of
life, the muse that has inspired countless works of prose and poetry.
Today, the lrrawaddy is under threat. Lack of sound planning, the failure to enforce necessary
conservation laws, and a poor ecological awareness have created diverse problems. The plains forests on
the banks of the river are in danger of disappearing as illegal logging and charcoal production proceed at
an alarming pace. Deforestation has meant erosion that in turn has led to a rise in the level of the
riverbed and an increased formation of sandbanks. The building of bridges without sufficient attention to
the appropriateness of location and design has aggravated the problems of erosion and sandbank
formation. For some decades now, navigation and the procurement of potable water have become
increasingly difficult during the hot season. Climate change is an additional factor to be taken into
account in assessing the damage that has been inflicted and continues to be inflicted on the lrrawaddy
due to lack of timely and effective action.
A relatively new problem is pollution. The proliferation of factories and the unregulated panning for gold
over the last decade have introduced waste matter that constitutes a threat to rare species of fish,
including the famous lrrawaddy dolphin, and to the health of people who rely on the river for water and
food.
The construction of darns and hydro-electric power stations bring such benefits as the regulation of
waterways and the availability of renewable electric energy. However there is a downside to such
projects. The river course is fragmented and the strength of flow is weakened; decrease in sedimentation
aggravates the erosion problem; although the water becomes clearer, there is a greater concentration of
impure elements; during the course of the construction work much industrial refuse is generated, adding
to the despoliation of the environment and pollution of the river.
A particularly serious problem resulting from the weakened flow of the waters of the lrrawaddy is the
intrusion of salt water into the delta. This is detrimental to paddy production and thus affects the whole
population of the country for whom rice is the staple food. Moreover rice is one of our major export
items and any decrease in its production could affect foreign exchange earnings.
The Eight Dams Project
The latest dam construction, begun in 2010, is the prologue of the ‘Eight Dams’, or Myit Sone Hydro
Electric Project, a joint Burmese-Chinese venture. This project has raised issues additional to the
problems of dam construction outlined in the previous paragraph. An environmental impact assessment
report has generated intense concern, in particular with regard to the safety aspect. The presence of
fault lines En the vicinity of the dams and the sheer immensity of the reservoir raises the spectre of
horrendous devastation in the event of an earthquake. Meanwhile 12,000 people from sixty three
villages have been relocated. It is not yet clear whether they will receive compensation commensurate
with the loss of livelihoods and the disruption to a traditional way of life.
As good neighbours, Burma and China have an established tradition of mutual regard and friendship. We
believe that, keeping in mind the interests of both countries, both governments would wish to avoid
consequences which might endanger lives and homes. Since the commencement of the Myit Sone
project, the perception, long held by the Kachin people, that successive Burmese governments have
neglected their interests has deepened. While recognizing that large sums of money have already been
spent en the realization of the project, we would urge that in the interests of both national and
international harmony, concerned parties should reassess the scheme and cooperate to find solutions
that would prevent undesirable consequences and thus allay the fears of all who are anxious to protect
the Irrawaddy.
Save the lrrawaddy
Ecological changes to the lrrawaddy would impact all those whose lives are linked to the great river, from
the ethnic peoples in the northernmost state of our country to the rice growing communities of the
delta. To conserve the Irrawaddy is to protect our economy and our environment as well as to safeguard
our cultural heritage. Most important of all, uniting in conservation efforts would carry dividends in the
way of better understanding and practical cooperation. Many individuals and organizations have done
valuable research on the lrrawaddy and there will surely be no lack of information and practical
suggestions that could serve as a basis for a conservation scheme. Much can be achieved simply by the
strict application of already existing laws and regulations pertaining to the conservation of forests and
rivers. We therefore appeal to environmental experts, to conservationists and to lovers of nature, peace
and harmony everywhere to join us in a campaign to create a worldwide awareness of the dangers
threatening one of the most important rivers of Asia. Together we can find solutions to problems,
ecological, economic, technical, and political, related to the Irrawaddy.
Aung San Suu Kyi

Aye Yar Waddy

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Aye Yar Waddy

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54 – 56 University Avenue

Bahan Township Rangoon

The Eight Dams Project

Save the lrrawaddy

Aung San Suu Kyi

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