Dam project halted over coup

Relief efforts: Free Burma Rangers distributing clothing to ethnic Karen children living in the jungles of remote northern Karen State to escape a local offensive by the Myanmar army. NGOs praised EDF’s move to suspend the dam project in response to last month’s coup. — AP

An international consortium has suspended a US$1.5bil (RM6.2bil) hydropower dam project in Myanmar in response to last month’s military coup, consortium member Electricite de France (EDF), a French utility, said.

Nearly 250 people are confirmed dead in protests since the Feb 1 military coup, according to tolls compiled by NGOs, and more than 2,300 others have been arrested.