ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the civil societies that are engaged in activities to protect the lives of the local residents and the natural environment of the Mekong River basin from the planned development in the region; this is examined by focusing on two cases: Myanmar's special economic zones (SEZs) and Laos's Hydropower Plan. It provides an outline of Myanmar's Dawei SEZ and examines its impact on the community. The chapter analyzes civil society's response to the project in terms of the actions of local and international NGOs. It identifies the background of Laos's hydroelectric power-generation plan. The chapter responses of NGOs in the Mekong region to the dam projects and the significance of corporate accountability are considered. It present agendas for the realization of human rights protection and sustainable Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which are clarified through an analysis of the responses of governments and civil society to huge projects.
