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The Burma Rivers Network petition - endorsed by 50,000 "affected people," 98 Burmese organizations and 24 international organizations - called on the Chinese government to require the 10 Chinese companies involved in dam building in Burma to conduct proper social and environmental impact studies  and reveal details on the projects to the affected communities.

"The dams would represent over 30 billion dollars in investment," the petition said. "This would be by far the biggest inflow of money to a military regime that Transparency International rates as the world's second most corrupt."

China is currently under considerable pressure from the international community to use its close economic relations with Burma's ruling junta to bring about political reform in the country after a brutal crackdown in September on peaceful anti-government protests led by Buddhist monks.

"These Chinese dams will cause huge environmental and social damage for the peoples in Burma and will damage China's international image," said Aung Ngyeh, spokesman of the Burma Rivers Network.

The Burma Rivers Network, a non-governmental organization comprised of representatives of ethnic organizations from potential dam-affected communities in Burma, has used its petition to highlight the extent of Chinese companies' involvement in Burmese hydropower sector, which has been largely ignored because of a lack of publicity and transparency surrounding the deals.

"In recent years, the number of Chinese businesses involved in hydropower projects in Burma has increased dramatically," the letter to Hu said.

"At least 10 Chinese corporations have been named in connection with these dams on the Irrawaddy, Salween (Nu), Shweli and Paunglaung rivers, including Gezhouba Group Co (CGGC), Sinohydro Corp, Yunnan Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Co, and China Power Investment Corp," it added.

Most of the planned hydropower dams are situated in conflict areas, where the Burmese military is waging jungle wars against ethnic minority groups, such as the Karen and Shan.

While the Chinese companies are hoping the projects would earn revenues from electricity exports to neighbouring Thailand, Burmese military stands to gain politically by opening these areas up to their troops and through forced relocations of thousands of ethnic minority populations opposed to the government, observers charged.

The dam building is likely to a have huge social impact not only at the project sites but also on the border areas between Burma and China and Thailand.

"The impacts of the proposed dams in border areas will lead to instability and increased refugees flows into China, creating further opportunities for the spread of HIV/AIDS and drug trafficking into China," the Burma Rivers Network said.

It urged the Chinese government to insist that Chinese companies conduct social impact assessments and environmental impact assessments that meet international standards before going ahead with construction.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur