What did they [Tatmadaw and Burma/Myanmar government] do? 

They [Burma/Myanmar government and Tatmadaw] did not say anything [about the dam project], but the Tatmadaw acted as security guards for the ITD Company staff and Burma/Myanmar government representatives.   

Did the Karen National Union [KNU] government say [do] anything [related to the dam project]? 

No, they did not. 

What about Non-Government Organisations [NGOs and CSOs] like Candle Light Group[7]? Did they investigate the dam project? 

We are local villagers and we do not have knowledge about the strategy we should use in order to respond to the company. Thus, they met with us [villagers] and gave us awareness training.

Which organisations were responsible [for the awareness training]? 

They are Candle Light Group, Ta K’Paw Group[8] and Htee Moe Pwa Ta Oh Su Oh Kler [KESAN].[9] 

What awareness [training] did they conduct? 

They gave us awareness training and provided suggestions about how villagers can respond and use their agency to accept or reject dam projects conducted by companies or wealthy individual people. 

What is your perspective and concerns regarding the dam project? 

I believe that all villagers from the villages located near the Ta Naw Th’Ree River do not want the dam project [to be constructed across the Ta Naw Th’Ree River] because we know about the negative consequences of the dam project and the difficulties of being displaced.  If we have to displace to other places, we will face difficulties in supporting our children’s education and [collecting sufficient] food. When the dam is constructed, all villagers have to displace because our land will be flooded so I know that we would then face numerous difficulties.  Therefore, I know that all villagers who live near the Ta Naw Th’Ree River, including myself, do not agree with the dam project.

How many villages will be submerged by the dam project? 

They [company] said 12 villagers will be submerged: Mo Ro, Ta Moo, Ta Baw Klow, Kyaw Peh Khee, Ler Hpa Doh, Day Plaw, Pral Ku, P’Htoo Klo, Th’Ra Hta, Bu Tha Plaw, Dah Thway Kya and Naw Tay villages. 

Will the dam project only submerge villages? What about plantations? 

Plantations will also be destroyed by the dam project.

I also received information about companies [GMS Power Public Company and Shwey Htun Company] and wealthy individuals who conducted gold and lead mining polluting the water. Is this correct? 

Yes, it is correct. When local people conduct gold mining and use the mercury chemical as part of the gold mining process, they do not allow the mercury to flow into the river [Ta Naw Th’Ree River], but they [GMS Power Public Company and Shwey Htun Company] allow lots of the mercury chemical to flow into the river. As mercury is a poisonous chemical used in the gold mining process, it can cause diseases such as kidney failure if we drink water polluted by mercury. Nevertheless, many villagers drink water from the river and local villagers face many illnesses. Moreover, most villagers do not have money to access medical treatment at the hospital.  People who have money went to the hospital for medical treatment, but some people died because they did not have money [to access treatment]. Additionally, the ships [of the Shwey Htun and GMS Power Public Company] that conduct gold and lead mining in the river have damaged the river; sand and stone banks created by the project have blocked the route taken by the villagers who travel in the river [by boat]. Thus, we have to pull our boats that are stuck in the sand and stone banks so our travelling time has increased from three hours to the entire day. 

Do you see any people becoming sick because of the polluted water by the gold mining project? 

I am not sure whether people [from my area] get illnesses by drinking polluted water [from the river] or not, but some patients were diagnosed with illnesses because of drinking polluted water when they went to see the doctor at the hospital in Myat Town.

So they fell sick by drinking the polluted water from the gold mining, is this correct?

Yes, this is correct because there was no mercury chemical in the past.

Does the gold mining project provide any benefits for villagers?

There are no benefits for villagers.

Which authorities did they get permission from [to conduct the gold mining project]? 

They got it [permission] from the Karen National Union [KNU] leaders because the KNU Mergui-Tavoy District Vice Secretary P’Doh Thwoo Yeh talked about the gold mining project in the [consultation] meeting that I attended in April 2017. He said that he granted permission to [the company to] conduct gold mining so the project should not be disrupted by anyone. Nevertheless, civilians are aware of the negative consequences of gold mining so they submitted complaint letters [to both the KNU and the Burma/Myanmar government].                                   

Did the Non-Government Organisation [NGOs] and CBOs/CSOs cooperate with villagers to stop the [gold mining] project? 

Yes, they did. They [NGOs, CBO/CSO and villagers] met with the company head once in Dawei Town. They asked the company head, “Where do you get drinking water while you are conducting gold mining?” He replied, “I just drink the water beside the gold mining raft. I drank the dirty water from the [Ta Naw Th’Ree] River.” As he is in a high-level position at the company, he probably does not drink the water from the river in his daily life, but he said that he drinks the same water from the river as the villagers. Thus, they brought a bottle of water from the river and gave it to him to drink; they compelled him to drink it against his will. 

What is the company and leader’s name? 

I don’t know the company’s name, but the owner’s name is Ko Cho. 

Where does he live? 

I don’t know. He is Chinese [from China].

What is the company situation now? Are they [company workers] still conducting gold mining?

I think that they have postponed the project temporarily.[10] 

Have you received any information about whether they will cease the project? 

I don’t know. I do not travel there [gold mining area]. 

Do you have any more information to add? If you have, you can report it now. 

Villagers from the Htee Mo Pwa [Ta Naw Th’Ree] River side do not want the gold mining project to continue. We want NGOs, CBOs/CSOs, the KNU and the Burma/Myanmar government to collaborate with villagers and stop both the dam project and the mining project. Villagers rely on their land, farms and plantations so if we lose them, we will face serious difficulties and will possibly become the servants of the people [who have money and land]. Therefore, we wish for the NGOs, CBOs/CSOs, KNU and Burma/Myanmar government to be with us [on our side]. 

Do you have anything else to say?

No.

Good morning. Thank you.

Good morning.