Riverside villagers from Cambodia, Laos and Thailand have met with regional NGO delegates

to discuss the threat of hydro-dams on the quality of water in the Se San River.

A conference in Stung Treng province on February 22 and 23 attracted 120 villagers

as well as representatives of environmental and advocacy organizations from Australia,

the United States, Laos and Cambodia.

Recommendations would be made on behalf of the villagers to the governments sharing

the river, including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China and Myanmar, said Kim Sam Cha,

coordinator of the Se San River Protection Network.

Cha said villagers depend on the river for their livelihood.

A declaration produced from the meeting asked that governments consult villagers

about the use of the river in order to develop the natural resources in a sustainable

manner.