Southeast Asia Partner Organizations

In the Mekong region, civil society organizations, academics, and community movements from Burma, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam have built determined national coalitions committed to defending the region's rivers. As widespread dam development threatens many rivers shared between countries, these groups have worked together in regional coalitions, joined by a network of supporters worldwide. International Rivers works with groups throughout the Mekong region, supporting their efforts to protect the region's rivers.

International Day of Action against dams on the Salween River, March 2006
International Day of Action against dams on the Salween River, March 2006
Salween Watch Coalition
In Burma, the Salween Watch Coalition is working to stop a cascade of four dams on the free-flowing Salween River that would have a massive impact on local ethnic people and the environment. Together with its international allies, such as EarthRights International, the Salween Watch Coalition has exposed the on-going human rights abuses that have accompanied dam-site preparations, and called on the projects' Thai and Chinese proponents to reconsider their involvement. In 2007, Burma Rivers Network was established to expose the impacts of Burma's extensive dam construction program.

Villagers and NGOs hold a celebration of the Sesan River, Cambodia, 2003
Villagers and NGOs hold a celebration of the Sesan River, Cambodia, 2003
3SPN
In Cambodia, the Rivers Coalition of Cambodia has supported communities along the Sesan, Srepok, and Sekong rivers to address the impacts of dams in operation, under construction, and planned upstream in Vietnam and Laos. As plans for extensive domestic hydropower development have emerged, the Rivers Coalition of Cambodia has also called for better planning processes in Cambodia before these projects are developed. The coalition's members include: the NGO Forum on Cambodia, the Sesan-Srepok-Sekong Rivers Protection Network, the Culture and Environment Preservation Association, the Fisheries Action Coalition Team, Conservation and Development on Cambodia, and Cambodian Volunteer for Society.

2005 Thai protests against Nam Theun 2
2005 Thai protests against Nam Theun 2
In Thailand, International Rivers has worked with NGOs and community movements that have long campaigned against destructive dam projects, called for energy planning reform, and promoted alternative energy solutions. Most recently, the Thai Peoples Network for the Mekong, comprised of academics, NGOs, and peoples' organizations has emerged, challenging the proposed Mekong mainstream dams and other major development projects in the region. International Rivers' partners include Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance, Living Rivers Siam, and Palang Thai.

VRN staff join a study tour in Cambodia, April 2008
VRN staff join a study tour in Cambodia, April 2008
Vietnam Rivers Network is a growing network of civil society groups, academics, community-based organizations, and individuals working to encourage the sustainable development of Vietnam's rivers. Through conducting field-based research at major dams in Vietnam, such as Son La and Yali Falls, organizing meetings, and sharing information, the network calls for better mitigation and compensation for communities affected by dams, and promotes more sustainable energy alternatives.

International Rivers is also a member of the Mekong Program on Water Environment and Resilience (M-POWER). The network works towards improved livelihood security, human and ecosystem health in the region, focusing on improving water governance. We coordinate closely with international allies including Mekong Watch, FIVAS, Probe International, the NGO Forum on ADB, and BankTrack.

International Rivers is a partners of the Save the Mekong Coalition that brings together non-government organizations, local people, academics, journalists, artists and ordinary people from within the Mekong countries and internationally to protect the Mekong River from mainstream dams.