YANGON - China’s ambassador to Myanmar asked leaders in Kachin for help winning over opponents to its Myitsone hydropower project, a politician has said, only for the Chinese embassy to later claim there is no public opposition to the dam.

A Chinese embassy statement released Sunday following the visit last month claimed the “people of Kachin State do not oppose” the dam -- but three political and religious leaders who met with the ambassador on his trip have branded that claim inaccurate.

Ambassador Hong Liang “asked us to talk to the Kachin people so they would stop opposing the project,”  said U Gumgrawng Awng Hkam, chairperson of the Kachin Democratic Party. “We replied that we will do what the public desires.”

The chairperson, along with prominent religious leader Rev. Hkalam Samson, have also claimed that the ambassador threatened them with “serious consequences” if they became too close to western diplomats.

Former president Thein Sein suspended the $3.6 billion Myitsone project in 2011 following widespread protests in Kachin state, where campaigners say 10,000 people could be displaced if it goes ahead.

Others have pointed to the fact that 90% of the energy produced by the dam will be exported to China. This, they argue, shows that Myanmar’s natural resources are being unfairly exploited by a major foreign power.   

During last month’s meeting the ambassador insisted that if the project did not go ahead Chinese investment in Myanmar would dry up, U Gumgrawng Awng told Myanmar Now.

“They said they have been waiting patiently for seven years to get permission from the Myanmar government,” he added.

Dr Tu Ja, chair of the newly formed Kachin State Democracy Party, said all Kachin people opposed the Myitsone project and that Sunday’s statement had eroded trust in China.

“The statement is totally one-sided,” he said.

U Saw Win Tun, general secretary of the Tailai (Red Shan) Ethnics Solidarity Party, said the public should have access to the facts about the Myitsone dam project so they can evaluate.

Some scholars support the project, he said, while others oppose it due to environmental concerns.

“The public can decide whether to support or object only when they know all the facts about the project. Only then we can do what the public desires,” he said.

The Myitsone dam, which could provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity per year, was slated to be built at the confluence of the Mayka and Malika rivers, where the Ayeyarwady river begins.

Under the plans, the China Power Investment Corporation will cover 80% of the project costs, while 15% will be shouldered by the Myanmar government and 5% by the military-linked Asia World conglomerate.

State counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has refused to be drawn on whether or not she supports resuming the project.