Irrawaddy: The Young Maiden of Histories

The Irrawaddy River that flows from north to south through Myanmar is the largest river and most important commercial waterway of Myanmar. It arises by the confluence of the N'mai and Mali Rivers in Kachin State. The Irrawaddy river flows through three well-marked defiles and has been used for trade and transport since the Sixth century. The Irrawaddy Delta, rice is produced by irrigated the water from the river. One of the most important goods transported in Myanmar is rice and the Irrawaddy Delta is one of the world's major rice-growing areas. There are a lot of fish species in the river. Many people live nearby the river can survive by fishery alone. The logs from the forests are one of the world's top exporters and float down the Irrawaddy River as large rafts. Therefore, Irrawaddy can be regarded as a main blood line as a metaphor to Myanmar’s economy.

As the Irrawaddy exists in the country for so many years, it knows all the events of histories such as kingdoms, wars, glorious moments, good and bad times of Myanmar history. I learn these from the song of “Young Maiden of Histories (Yar Za Win Myar Yet Tha Toh Tha Mie)”, composed and sang by late singer Htoo Eain Thin. Irrawaddy - she is a necklace; a right arm of Myanmar, a living legendary book of Myanmar.

Since 2005, the Myanmar government agreed with the China Company backed by the Chinese Government to build seven dams in the upriver of the Irrawaddy River. The power generated by the dams will be sold mainly to China and some other countries in the South-East Asian region. Among the seven dams, Myitsone dam is the largest one. If completed, they may cause irreversible damage to the river system. The dam would also disrupt transportation of nutrients to the Irrawaddy’s delta, which provides nearly 60 percent of Burma’s rice. Due to this dam project, negative ecological impacts are much anticipated - flood in the surrounding regions; force relocation of people who stay near these dams; deforestration;; shortage of water produce; change in the river direction; change in the quality of soil. All Myanmar people suffer all these consequences. The Young Maiden of Histories, Irrawaddy will be perished due to these dams. Ending Irrawaddy is the end of Myanmar people too. Myanmar will be vanished too.

Therefore, we are obliged as a citizen of Myanmar to speak up our voice to call off this Damn Project. We have civil duties and responsibilities to remind the adamant Myanmar government to save Irrawaddy.

Myo

20.07.2011