World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
Asian women press for justice over development projects
At a people’s tribunal in Bangkok, more than 400 women land defenders from over 30 nations heard accounts of communities affected by development projects.
Sompong Viengchan has led a fight against Thailand’s Pak Mun Dam since 1990, saying it damaged fishing livelihoods and forced families to move.
A 2000 assessment found that the dam took homes or land from around 1,700 households and that fish catches fell by 60% to 80% in parts of the river.
After 36 years of protests, communities have pushed authorities to reconsider the dam’s costs compared with its electricity output.
Their campaign has also secured periodic openings of the dam gates so migratory fish can move upstream.
In Nepal, farmer Manju said land-use restrictions linked to a planned World Bank- and Asian Development Bank-supported dam have prevented residents from buying or selling land since 2023.
The women called for accountability from the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund over development projects they say have harmed communities.
Women from across Asia described the effects of development projects at a people’s tribunal in Bangkok.
The October tribunal brought together more than 400 women land defenders from more than 30 nations.
Speakers called for justice and accountability over projects they said harmed communities and livelihoods.
Sompong Viengchan has campaigned against Thailand’s Pak Mun Dam since 1990.
After decades of protests, communities have pushed authorities to reconsider the dam’s costs and secured periodic openings of its gates.
- Who
- Women land defenders and community members from across Asia, including Sompong Viengchan and Manju.
- What
- They shared experiences of development projects and sought justice and accountability for harm to their communities.
- When
- At a tribunal in Bangkok in October; the article was published on October 30, 2026.
- Where
- Bangkok, Thailand.
- Why
- To highlight the social and environmental impacts of projects funded by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund and call for accountability.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sompong Viengchan and her neighbors began fighting the Pak Mun Dam.
The World Commission on Dams reported that the dam had taken houses or land from around 1,700 households and fish catches had declined by 60–80%.
Land-use restrictions related to the planned Dudh Koshi Storage Hydroelectric Project began, according to Manju.
Women land defenders gathered in Bangkok for a tribunal on the impacts of development projects.
After 36 years of protest, communities had pushed authorities to reconsider the Pak Mun Dam’s costs and secured periodic openings of its gates.
- Tribunal location
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Tribunal attendance
- More than 400 women land defenders from more than 30 nations
- Pak Mun Dam capacity
- 136 MW
- Pak Mun Dam campaign
- Began in 1990
- Dudh Koshi project capacity
- 670 MW
- Pak Mun Dam fish-catch decline
- 60–80%, according to the World Commission on Dams in 2000
What people are saying
Building a dam is the same as burying a person alive
We used to catch and sell fish, but now we are compelled to buy fish to eat.
We cannot buy or sell our lands under the freeze order by the government.
A freeze blocked us from financing our children’s education.