In Solidarity for Protection of the Areng Valley

By: 
Ame Trandem
Dam affected villagers from the Sesan and Srepok rivers support Alex
Dam affected villagers from the Sesan and Srepok rivers support Alex

A few years ago, Alejandro "Alex" Gonzalez-Davidson, a Spanish national living and working in Cambodia for more than a decade, contacted me to request information about the proposed Cheay Areng Dam, a hydropower project located in Southwestern Cambodia on the Cheay Areng River. During his work to establish a community-based ecotourism project with local villagers from several communes within Thmo Bang District, Alex had fallen in love with the Areng Valley, with its magnificent river and unique biodiversity. Out of concern about the damage the proposed dam would have on the Areng Valley’s unique environment and out of respect for the people that have called it home since time immemorial, Alex has since helped to support local people in their peaceful efforts to raise concerns about the project, while urging for its cancellation. 

In a clear move by the Cambodian government to silence dissent and stifle criticism, the Ministry of Interior announced earlier this week that they had decided to not renew Alex’s visa when it expires today. This move is evidence of an attempt to begin laying the groundwork to push forward with construction of the Cheay Areng Dam; the government clearly picked the wrong scapegoat. Alex is one of hundreds of thousands of people within Cambodia – as well as internationally – who have vowed to not give up until the dam is stopped for good. The predicted environmental and social impacts of the Cheay Areng Dam alone have led to mass civil society efforts through peace walks, petitions, letters, reports, and even a road blockade over the past few years, demanding the project’s cancellation. 

Remote River Home to the Siamese Crocodile
Remote River Home to the Siamese Crocodile
Photo courtesy of Luke Duggleby. May not be reproduced withouth permisison.

I, too, have visited the Areng Valley and experienced its unsurpassed beauty and felt compelled to protect it. The Areng Valley is more than just a biodiversity gem. It is home to more than a thousand indigenous Khmer Daeum who would be forcibly evicted from their ancestral land to make way for the dam. In addition, many critically endangered wildlife – including the Siamese crocodile and Asian elephant – will be a step closer to extinction, and large ecologically intact old-growth forests located in the nearby Central Cardamom Protected Forest are likely to be subjected to rampant and uncontrolled logging should this dam proceed. Given the risks this project poses, two Chinese hydropower companies who were looking to build the dam – China Southern Power Grid and China Guodian Corporation – have already withdrawn from the project citing high environmental impact and low economic feasibility. China’s Sinohydro Resources is now earmarked to build the dam pending the studies they have underway, despite the costly reputational risks the project poses. With the threat that the Cheay Areng Dam poses to the future sustainability of one of Cambodia’s biodiversity and ancestral heritage hotspots, this destructive project will remain lurking on the edge of consciousness until it's cancelled and companies, like Sinohydro, will likely remain under-fire for their continued involvement.

Chinese Engineers Research Feasibility of Cheay Areng Dam
Chinese Engineers Research Feasibility of Cheay Areng Dam
Photo courtesy of Luke Duggleby. May not be reproduced without permission.

In the meantime, Cambodia will need to respond to the overwhelming support that has been expressed by the Cambodian people for Alex’s work and in critique of their efforts to curtail social and environmental activism. On Tuesday, a group of 31 local rights groups, unions, communities and associations put out a joint statement in support of Alex, urging the government to reconsider its decision and allow Alex to continue working to support local communities. The political opposition has also voiced in their concern and support for Alex’s continued stay in Cambodia, with opposition leader Sam Rainsy telling Radio Free Asia that “Alejandro hasn’t committed any crime justifying deportation.” Today, the NGO Forum on Cambodia along with 82 other NGOs submitted a petition calling for Alex to be able to remain in Cambodia. Many other supporters have gone to protest outside of the National Assembly.  While the decision is now in the hands of the Cambodian government whether or not to listen to its people and allow Alex to stay, one thing is certain: the work to protect the Areng Valley will continue.

International Rivers supports the efforts urging the cancellation of the Cheay Areng Dam and hopes the Cambodian government will renew Alex’s visa.

More information: 

Date: 
Wednesday, February 18, 2015