Bruno Manser Fund publishes secret Baram dam map

(BASEL, SWITZERLAND) The Bruno Manser Fund has today disclosed an exclusive map showing the extent of the proposed Baram mega dam whose realization is bound to cause a social and environmental disaster in Malaysian Borneo. The proposed 1000 MW Baram dam is one of twelve dams authorities in the Malaysian state of Sarawak are planning to build following the completion of the 2400 MW Bakun dam.

View the exclusive map here (623kB): stop-corruption-dams.com/resources/16_2_12_baram_dam_BMF.pdf

According to the map based on intelligence and calculations by the Bruno Manser Fund, the 162 meter high Baram dam would flood a rainforest area of 412 km2 (41'200 hectares) and at least 26 indigenous villages, causing the displacement of up to 20,000 Sarawak natives. The dam is being planned by the Sarawak state government and Sarawak Energy, the implementing agency, in violation of international transparency standards. While the Sarawak government has started legal procedures to extinguish native rights for an access road to the dam site, the affected communities are deliberately being kept in the dark over the extent of the dam plans.

The proposed dam would cause havoc for the Kenyah, Kayan and Penan culture in the upper reaches of the Baram river, one of Borneo's great rainforest streams. Many of their villages would be submerged and would literally cease to exist. Traditional longhouse communities in the dam's downstream areas would also have to face drastic changes and pollution of the riverine ecosystem, affecting river transport, fishery, irrigation and access to drinking water.

According to information obtained by the Bruno Manser Fund, the following villages and longhouse communities would cease to exist upon construction of the dam:


Village / Longhouse
Culture
1
Long Na'ah
Kayan
2
Long Liam
Kayan
3
Long Tebangan
Kayan
4
Long Anyat
Kayan
5
Ba Keluan
Western Penan
6
Long Beku
Western Penan
7
Long Luding
Western Penan
8
Long Item
Eastern Penan
9
Long Dilo
Eastern Penan
10
Long Lutin
Eastern Penan
11
Long Kawi
Eastern Penan
12
Long Segayang
Eastern Penan
13
Ba Abang / Long Sepatai
Eastern Penan
14
Long San
Regional Centre (mainly Kenyah)
15
Long Tap
Kenyah
16
Long Selatong Dikan
Kenyah
17
Long Selatong Tanjung Tepalit
Kenyah
18
Long Apu
Kenyah
19
Long Julan
Kenyah
20
Long Julan Pelutan
Kenyah
21
Long Anap
Kenyah
22
Long Palai
Kenyah
23
Long Silat
Kenyah
24
Long Selawan
Kenyah
25
Long Je'eh
Kenyah
26
Long Makabar
Kenyah

Downstream villages and longhouses that are to be negatively affected by the dam plans include the regional centers of Marudi and Long Lama as well as the villages and longhouse of Long Keseh, Long Pila, Long Laput, Kejaman, Long Pelutan, Uma Bawang and others.

The Bruno Manser Fund calls on the Sarawak state government and on Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) as implementing agency to halt all further works on the controversial project and immediately release all official studies on the planned Baram dam.