Chiang Rai News
Myitsone Dam Strains Relations with China and Myanmar
Suspension of the US$3.6 billion China-backed hydraulic dam in Myanmar have threatened the longstanding close China-Myanmar relationship
One day before China’s National Day celebration, Myanmar’s President Thein Sein called a halt to the on-going Myitsone hydroelectric dam project that was being invested and commenced by the China Power Investment Corporation, a Chinese state-owned company. The dam was planned to be completed by 2017 and was expected to provide up to 6000 megawatts of electricity for China.
The Myitsone dam project will damage the environment of the Myitsone area and will bring harm to the farming and fishing communities, especially to the agriculture that is financed by locals,” Thein Sein stated at a meeting. “The residents living near the dam will be endangered if there is an unexpected natural disaster that may break the dam.
He said the project wouldn’t be resumed during his tenure. However, the president noted that the Chinese and Myanmar governments will further negotiate over the issue so as to keep bilateral ties strong.
According to sources, the Myitsone dam project was initiated between Chinese President Hu Jintao and the Myanmar’s junta chief Senior-General Than Shwe during the 2005 Asian-African Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was agreed in the meeting that electricity generated by the hydro-power station would be sold to China.
The Myitsone dam project will damage the environment of the Myitsone area
The dam is planned on the Irrawaddy River, which is the country’s largest river as well as the most important commercial water way that flows through Myanmar from north to south. The Irrawaddy River Delta is one of the country’s most densely populated regions with mainly farmers and fisherman benefitting from the river. At the same time, the Irrawaddy region is abundant in wildlife, including the well-known Irrawaddy dolphins and some crocodiles.
The dam project on the Irrawaddy has also drawn concerns from environmental organizations because it will impact on the river’s ecosystem. The farmers and the fishermen will be facing economic losses after the completion of the project for some areas are expected to flood in the future. The locals have been protesting continuously against the project, especially those facing relocation. In addition, local people often expressed their dissatisfaction towards China as the Chinese companies have imported their own domestic labor force instead of creating job opportunities for the local community.
Some from Myanmar’s new, younger generation stated that they expect their country to be a part of the new world order instead of being “half-colonized by China.” As a result, the Myanmar government previously had to keep an armed military presence around the construction site to ensure the process.
Thein Sein’s decision to suspend the dam project following the widespread concern of the people has been welcomed by environmental organizations and human rights activists. Furthermore, the government announced on Tuesday that it will grant freedom to over 6,300 prisoners. Reports said the United States and the Europe would consider lifting sanctions against Myanmar if and when it really releases the prisoners.
Myanmar has been under U.S. sanctions since it suppressed student demonstrations in 1988. Recently, the United States has announced that it would change its foreign policy towards Myanmar, including lifting sanctions from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). This month, the IMF is planning to send officials to Myanmar to help reform the country’s exchange rate system.
Facing a series of changes, China showed concerns regarding its relationship with the Southeast Asian nation. China has become Myanmar’s biggest investor and a highly valued ally. For China, Myanmar is an important path to the Indian Ocean. Plus, China is building an oil pipeline in Myanmar from a port on the Bay of Bengal up into China’s southwestern Yunnan Province which will help China reduce dependence on the Malacca Straits to deliver oil coming from the Middle East and Africa.
Statistics show that China’s investment in Myanmar reached US$12.3 billion in 2010 and bilateral trade in fiscal year 2010-2011 amounted to US$5.3 billion. In May, Thein Sein signed some 36 agreements and MoUs with China during his visit to Beijing, including loan and credit line agreements worth more than US$765 million.
Based on the aforementioned facts, analysts say even though some events made the China-Myanmar relationship tense, neither side would risk jeopardizing their close ties.
On Monday, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin came to Beijing to meet with China’s Vice-President Xi Jinping as well as his counterpart Yang Jiechi. Chinese state media reported that Myanmar agreed to “properly settle matters” over the suspension of the hydro-electric dam.
As for the environmental problems that concern the local residents, China said the project “had been fully examined” before the construction, and it criticized the United States and Europe for interfering and exaggerating the issue.
Police in Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai Province have arrested a 50 year old man after the threatened to rape a 20 year-old woman and the proceeded to murder her 2 and half month old baby.
Police with doctors from Wiang Kaen Hospital and the Chao Luang Wiang Kaen Welfare Association were summoned to the scene of the incident to a 2-story cement house, Village No. 2, Tha Kham Subdistrict, Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai
On arrival they found Ms. Chanikarn, age 20, in a state of distress crying uncontrollably beside her 2 and a half month baby girl (Linlada) that was dead on the floor.
After calming Ms. Chanikarn, the child’s mother, said that at approximately 2:30 p.m she was out to collect diapers that had been dried in front of the house, while her 2 and a half month old daughter was sleep on the ground floor of the house.
She said she was suddenly approached by a Mr. Lee, about 40 years old, who lived on the opposite side of the road. He came towards her and grabbed her arm and threatened her saying if she didn’t sleeping with him he will go and kill his daughter.
Miss Chanikan refused and ran away, then Mr. Lee then walked into the house and grabbed Ms. Linlada’s leg, smashing the child’s head against the cement floor of the house. The infant died immediately.
Mr. Lee then just walked away and returned to his own home, leaving Miss Chanikan and her dead baby.
When police went to Mr. Lee’s home he immediately confessed killing the infant and was taken to Wiang Kaen Police Station for further questioning. Under caution he told police that he was sexually attracted to Miss Chanikan‘s and when her husband leave for work he took the opportunity to approach her.
He said when he saw her husband leave he crossed that road and found Miss Chanikan in the yard alone, he then threatened her to sleep with him, saying he would kill her child if she didn’t have sex with him. However when she refused he flew into a fit of rage walked into her home and murdered he baby. He said he was out of control with rage.
After killing the infant he walk across the street to his home and waited for the police to arrive. The police have charged him with premeditated murder and attempted rape. He is being held without bail at the local remand center.
Meanwhile, Miss Chanikan and her family were preparing a religious burial ceremony for the child.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
CHIANG RAI: Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.
On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.
His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.
Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, Assigned Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabut, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Police/Deputy Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, has launched the operation ‘Bombing the Thieves’ Bridge’ in collaboration with the CAT Office, G., mobile phone network operators AIS DTAC TRUE NT, and local security agencies to cut the mobile phone signal and WiFi internet that criminals illegally use to deceive Thai citizens.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai stated that they will begin pressing the first action of the ‘Explosion of Thieves’ Bridge’ in Chiang Rai Province toward the thieves’ base of operations in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
The territory surrounding King Roman in Laos. King Roman is now a full-service entertainment destination with an airport that welcomes travelers from Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, he explained.
According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai, this operation will have no influence on honest people along the Thai border, and it will only target cyber criminals.
They will also increase the arrest and prosecution of unlawful service towers, such as SIM booths, which allow gangs register SIM cards to swindle the people. Dealing with criminal organizations of foreigners and Thais who band together to deceive and damage Thais.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended more than three million SIM cards on July 16 because the holders had not verified their identities with their mobile phone operators by the deadline, in accordance with the NBTC’s measures to combat alleged fraudsters’ mule accounts.
The names of the holders of 80 million mobile phone numbers used for mobile banking transactions did not match the names associated with the mobile banking accounts.
The NBTC would require mobile phone companies to authenticate SIM card holders and the names of their mobile banking accounts. The verification procedure is expected to be completed by the end of September this year.
In addition, the NBTC and Royal Thai Police have collaborated to combat illegal telecom towers throughout the country’s borders, disconnecting signals at 465 places, altering antenna direction at 470 towers, and dismantling antennas at 179 locations.
They are certain that the move will disrupt contact center gangs and other types of technology-based crime.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
Police in Mae Chan, Chiang Rai, shot and killed a 28-year-old man who allegedly attacked a police officer with a machete. The officer was slashed in the right leg with the machete.
According to police, the culprit, known only as Mr. Toon, had been harassing local villagers in Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai, threatening them with a knife and using violet insults.
The village headman arrived on the scene to try to calm Mr. Toon, but he was shouting hysterically and taking swipes at him with the machete, so he contacted the police.
When the responding officer arrived at the site about 9 p.m., he attempted to calm the man, but he instead assaulted the officer, slashing his right leg with the machete. In self-defense, the cop had to fire his gun at Mr. Toon, striking him in the chest.
Mr. Toon and the policeman were taken to Mae Chan Hospital, where Mr. Toon died of a gunshot wound. Pol Sgt. Sutthikiat Phanomphraisakul was released from the hospital after receiving numerous stitches for his injuries.
Local police received a tip around 9.30 p.m. yesterday that a guy was causing mayhem in the village. When authorities arrived, they discovered 28-year-old Toon strolling along a public road, holding a large knife and threatening people. Mae Chan district officials attempted to contain the incident.
During a search of Mr. Toon’s home, authorities discovered methamphetamine consumption equipment. Locals told authorities that the man was addicted to Yaba (Methamphetamine) and an alcoholic.
The authorities are conducting an inquiry to determine Toon’s motivations and whether any underlying issues contributed to his violent outburst.
Other related news:
Chiang Mai Police Offer Cash Reward After Officer Killed
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/crime/chiang-mai-police-offer-reward/
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