TBNClimate
The women who won’t let go: Female-led resistance to development harms across Asia
Publication: Conservation news
Authors: Isabel Esterman, Kannikar Petchkaew
Source published: 30/10/2026, 23:50:40 UTC
Briefing created: 31/10/2026, 00:14:31 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 31/10/2026, 00:09:24 UTC.
Briefings
Sompong Viengchan, a 70+ year old woman, led a resistance movement against the Pak Mun Dam in Thailand since 1990, fighting 16 governments and 26 cabinet changes. She testified at a 2026 people's tribunal in Bangkok before 400 women land defenders from over 30 nations, describing how the dam destroyed their fishing livelihoods and forced family relocation. The World Commission on Dams confirmed in 2000 that the dam took houses and land from 1,700 households and caused a 60-80% decline in fish catches. The article was originally published on Mongabay.
Key points
- Sompong Viengchan led a resistance movement against the Pak Mun Dam in Thailand since 1990, facing 16 governments and 26 cabinet changes.
- In 2000, the World Commission on Dams confirmed the dam took houses and land from 1,700 households and caused a 60-80% decline in fish catches.
Context
Sompong Viengchan and her neighbors along the Mun and Mekong rivers in Thailand have fought relentlessly against the Pak Mun Dam since 1990. The dam was co-funded by the World Bank Group and built to deliver promised prosperity, but displaced 1,700 households. The article was originally published on Mongabay.
Limitations
Evidence covers only the Pak Mun Dam case in Thailand. Specific dates for the 2026 tribunal are noted as October, but exact dates for the 1990 resistance start are not specified. The World Commission on Dams determination is cited as 2000, but the exact year of the 1990 conflict is not confirmed. Data on 30+ nations' defenders is reported without specific country names or dates.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 31/10/2026, 00:14:31 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
View archived briefing on IPFS
bafybeid35el6zsg7wegyklx3vqhm56l3lslm7ifmoaqv53vx3lahxlr5u4