On 14 March 2025, in Hpapun township (Hpapun district, Kayin state), locals, along with Karen Rivers Watch, Karen Environmental and Social Action Network, Karen Women Organization, Salween Peace Park and Karen Student Network Group, held a protest against the plan to build a dam on Salween river.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1) Summary A peaceful protest against the Salween River dam construction plan occurred on March 14, 2025, in the Hpapun area of Kayin State, Myanmar. The low-intensity demonstration was led by local residents and Karen environmental groups, with no reports of physical clashes or infrastructure damage to date.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Hydroelectric project delays - Dam construction opposition protests are expected to disrupt infrastructure development schedules, potentially affecting power supply plans for southeastern Myanmar
• Regional transport routes - The Hpapun area is located near the Myanmar-Thailand border, and continued expansion of opposition protests could indirectly impact cross-border trade routes
• Resource development - If community resistance spreads to Salween River basin water resource development projects overall, constraints on related construction materials and equipment transport may arise

3) Watch points

• Protest expansion - Need to monitor whether anti-dam protests spread to other areas within Kayin State or throughout the entire Salween River basin
• Myanmar military government response - Track the possibility of harsh crackdowns by authorities against peaceful protests and whether this leads to increased regional instability