"The Thai government?s recent push to speed up its energy investment in Myanmar?s Salween River contradicts its own efforts to warn Thai investors from operating overseas projects that violate human rights. A number of hydropower dams proposed for the Salween River, and co-invested in by the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) and companies in China and Myanmar, would force tens of thousands of ethnic minorities to leave their homes and undermine the current peace process in Myanmar. In May this year, the Thai government issued a cabinet resolution proposing measures that would require Thai investors to adhere to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights wherever they operate overseas. The UN framework specifically highlights the threats to human rights posed by investment in conflict zones. But early this week, Thailand?s permanent secretary for energy Areepong Bhoocha-oom, said the Ministry of Energy planned to meet its Myanmar counterpart to discuss the country?s investment in proposed hydropower projects on the Salween River, along with a coal-fired power plant in the southern town of Myeik. The Salween River, known as Thanlwin in Myanmar, is one of Asia?s last largely free-flowing rivers, running from China, through to Myanmar and Thailand. It is also the site of a planned cascade of six massive dams, including the Mong Ton Dam in Shan State and Hat Gyi Dam in Karen State. The majority of the electricity will be sold to Thailand..."