Calling on Mekong Leaders

In the collection of views below, young people at the 3^rd Greater Mekong Subregion Summit held in Vientiane, Laos on Mar.30-31, 2008 talk about what they’d like Mekong leaders to do.

Q: What’s your impression of this forum? 

Fang Min from China: Before meeting each other at GMS Summit in Vientiane, we had the opportunity to take a one-week trip on vans, starting on March 24 from Ho Chi Minh City to Cambodia and then entering through southern Laos, Champasak province. During the trip, we got to know each other among GMS colleagues, and we also studied each other’s cultures. We have learnt so many things that I could not count them, but one thing that impresses us is the various cultures of each country and the ways of life of the people we met during our journey. If we had travelled by plane, I would have known nothing.

Q: What do you want GMS leaders to protect the environment?

I want the GMS leaders to protect the Mekong River together, because it is like our mother and millions of lives depend on it. It is the bloodline of six countries to feed people from upstream to downstream. So we need the leaders of the six countries to have policies to protect the environment in the Mekong. Therefore, before doing hydropower dams across Mekong, the GMS leaders should have feasibility studies into their positive and negative impacts. Of course, the leaders have to keep a balance between the advantages and disadvantages from the projects. Finally, they should look for the best way and find the problems together.    

Q: Mr Aung Phone Myint from Myanmar: In our group there were 12 people travelling together and during this time, I travelled along the Mekong River. It is an unforgettable experience for us. 

Q: What should be improved along the Mekong River?

In some areas in Mekong, we need more bridges to be built in order to accommodate transportation. During the trip we took the ferry to cross the river, it took us a long time. 

Have you seen environment along Mekong that destroyed?

 No, I haven’t because each government of GMS countries has a plan to protect the environment in Mekong. Of course, they must keep the environment sustainable.  

Q: What do you think when GMS countries have plans to build dams on the Mekong?

I think it is very good that we can share the same interest in (benefits) from the dams, but we need to balance this and the loss of the environment. . . . We should realise the impact on people living downstream of the Mekong, especially those in Vietnam and Cambodia. 

Mr Sorakrit Jarupasin from Thailand: I think this forum is useful so young people from GMS countries have the opportunity to share experiences. Because before meeting at the GMS summit in Vientiane, our group of GMS young participants has undertaken activities together. 

Do you think GMS countries will equally share benefits in the Mekong region?  

Yes! In theory, we can share the benefits from the Mekong equally, but in practice it depends on potential of each country. In fact, the country which has the stronger economy and is richer will have more advantage than the others. Therefore, a win-win policy is only talk on the table. I think one country must get more benefits than others from development projects along the Mekong. For example, China can earn great benefits from the Mekong by building dams upstream, while downstream countries including Vietnam and Cambodia suffer from flooding.  

Do you think how the GMS leaders protect the environment in Mekong? 

I think protecting the environment for the next generation is necessary for the GMS (leaders) to consider carefully. Now, the water in Mekong is in crisis because during our trip we could see sand islands emerging in the middle of Mekong. . . .Therefore, the GMS leaders should take action to rehabilitate Mekong from now on.

(END/Newsmekong/OS/JS/0308)