Minister eyes commission to manage Thanlwin River
A Union minister is trying to launch a new tripartite commission for management of the Salween/Thanlwin River with a stated aim of avoiding disputes concerning water resources. Minister for Transport and Communication U Thant Sin Maung said the Thanlwin River Commission should include representatives from the three countries through which the river runs: China, Myanmar and Thailand. “China, Myanmar and Thailand will jointly form the Thanlwin River Commission. I will negotiate with them via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is also necessary to negotiate Thailand’s participation,” the minister told parliament on November 23. The announcement was made after upper house MP U Soe Thein asked whether the government had a plan to sign a transboundary agreement over the use of the river’s water resources.
