however. Since the 1990s, when it broke off from the Christian-dominated Karen National Union, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army had been cooperating with the Myanmar Army. However, in 2010, Saw La Pwe formed an anti-government breakaway faction of the DKBA. 2011-present Public hearings regarding the construction of the dam were held in the Sop Moei District of northern Thailand in 2011. Attendance was high. In December of that year, the Karen National Union reluctantly agreed to allow further surveys to be conducted for the dam. In January of the following year, a temporary ceasefire was signed between the national army and the KNU. Only two months later, however, there was a noticeable build-up of army troops in the area around the dam site. Around this time, Jin Honggen, economic and commercial counselor at China's Myanmar embassy, related the concern of many Chinese investors at the lack of progress in a variety of investment projects, including the Hatgyi Dam. He stated that, "some Chinese companies in Myanmar, especially those investing in resource fields, are worrying their interests can't be secured". In late-February 2013, Myanmar's deputy minister of electric power told parliament that the Hatgyi Dam was one of six dams whose construction had been approved. Less than two months later, in April, local villagers first reported visible evidence of the project getting underway, claiming that EGAT was setting up water measurement posts at the Hatgyi Dam site. At the same time, Myanmar's military presence in the area was as high as ever, as witnesses reported the presence of eight army battalions near the dam site. Meanwhile, the DKBA was forced to evacuate the dam area in May. As of September 2014, troop deployments to the dam site continued in order to increase security. Controversy Impact on local populations Concerns about the impact of the dam on local populations have largely revolved around the displacement of numerous villages due to flooding, and the lack of involvement of local communities in the decision-making process. In 2013, the Karen National Union explained to local villagers that nine Karen villages would be flooded and damaged as a result of the Hatgyi Dam. Karen Rivers Watch (KRW) pegs the number of displaced villages at 21. EJ Atlas estimates the potential affected population to range from 1,000 to 30,000 local residents, with listed impacts including displacement, loss of livelihood, and loss of culture. Saw Kyaw Phoe of