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dam-l LS: Thai media on Pak Mun
Anand urged to mediate in dam conflict
Senators-elect makes a trip to trouble spot
Dusit Singkhiri
Ubon Ratchathani
Bangkok Post May 22nd, 2000
The Assembly of the Poor has called for Anand Panyarachun to mediate in the
conflict over Pak Moon dam.
The call was made by Thongcharoen Sihatham, an assembly member, to a team
of senators-elect who yesterday visited the dam on a fact-finding trip,
while villagers continued to occupy portions of the dam for the seventh day.
The visiting senators-elect included Sophon Supapong, Damrong Phudtan,
Kaewsan Atipho and Prateep Ungsongtham Hata of Bangkok; Sawai Prammanee of
Nakhon Ratchasima; Maleerat Kaewka of Sakon Nakhon; Niran Pitakwatchara and
Vichai Krongyuth of Ubon Ratchathani.
They met protesters at the power plant, visited the dam's fish ladder, and
held a meeting with villagers on the left bank of the reservoir.
Preeda Saputhorn, a leading member of the Assembly of the Poor, repeated
the call for the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to open all
of the dam's spillways for at least a year, to allow fish to swim upstream
to spawn.
The senators-elect then proceeded to Sirindhorn dam in Sirindhorn district,
where they were met by a group of about 500 villagers of the Moon River
Protection Group led by Thiang Banthao.
The villagers submitted a letter to Mr Kaewsan, saying they were opposed to
the seizure of the Pak Moon dam by the Assembly of the Poor. They used to
work with the assembly but later split to form a new group, claiming the
assembly's work was not transparent.
The senators-elect later held a meeting with Egat deputy governor M.L.
Chanaphan Kridakorn and deputy governor Prapas Boonyindee, who briefed them
on the latest situation.
M.L. Chanaphan said yesterday he sent a letter to Ms Vanida
Tantivitayapitak, an assembly leader, asking her to allow mechanics to
repair the fourth power plant which has gone out of order. The request was
turned down, he said. Niran Pitakwatchara, a senator-elect of Ubon
Ratchathani, said a special neutral body should be set up to settle the
problems at the Pak Moon dam through peaceful means.
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Pak Mool protesters 'willing to die'
PROTESTERS at the Pak Mool dam yesterday vowed to form a "human shield" to
resist any effort to remove them from the dam site in Ubon Ratchathani,
while Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai insisted that the government would not
use violence to end the stand-off.
More than 1,000 protesters have occupied the controversial dam for days
demanding that its floodgates be opened to allow fish to migrate to
replenish depleted stocks upriver.
Village leaders yesterday joined with academics and non-governmental
organisations in issuing statements to reiterate their anti-dam stance. The
statements emphasised that the dam had produced much less electricity than
official projections and caused widespread hardship to villagers by
reducing their fishery income.
The protest movement attacked the government for "staying aloof" from the
problem by allowing the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat)
the final say on their demand. The government was also accused of trying to
portray the protesters as troublemakers and divide the communities living
in the vicinity of the dam.
"We have been protesting in a peaceful manner, but if the government
resorts to violent measures to disperse us, we are willing to die," said
Sompong Janviang, a protest leader, as members of the anti-dam movement met
at Thammasat University.
"We have formed a front line to confront any attempt to dislodge us from
the site," he said.
Another movement leader, Suriyasai Katasila, asked the government to stop
its "propaganda" intended to pit the anti-dam protesters against other
villagers who, the authorities said, could suffer if the dam gates were
opened.
Chuan denied the government was planning a crack-down on protesters, saying
he had instructed provincial officials and Egat to do their best to avoid
an outbreak of violence.
He complained that the government had had to deal with chronic problems not
of its making.
"We are facing the same old problems, and it is too late to cancel [the dam
project]. What we have to do now is think about what is best for the common
good," Chuan said.
"No more dam construction in problematic areas. We will have to be more
careful in the future. We can't build a structure and then later be held
hostage by problems."
The anti-dam movement has received plenty of support from local and foreign
environmentalists as well as academics.
Damrong Puttan led a team of senators elect to inspect the dam site
yesterday and called on the prime minister to deal with the problem himself.
"It's not going to work if the government expects Egat and the villagers to
settle the problem between themselves," Damrong said. His group also
suggested that the government take this opportunity to show its commitment
to the new political system by resolving the problem in the most
transparent and fair manner with the plight of the affected minority taken
into account.
The Nation May 22nd, 2000
_______________________
The Thai Post newspaper of 21 May 2000 reported that
officals of the Energy Generting Authority of Thailand
(EGAT) have asked the police in Khong Chiam District
to charge 14 protest leaders on 7 counts. EGAT asked
that the following persons be arrested:
1. Ms. Wanida Tantiwitthayapitak
2. Mr. Thongcharoen Sihatham
3. Mr. Phakdee Janthajiat
4. Mr. Somkiat Phanphai
5. Mr. Somsak Sirithep
6. Mr. Chat Jankaew
7. Mr. Paolo Srisawat
8. Ms. Sompong Wiengjan
9. Ms. Jaroen Kongsuk
10. Ms. Sutjai Saenawan
11. Mr. Sunthorn Chaikodee
12. Mr. Thawee Fongthep
13. Mr. Boonmee Khamruang
14. Mr. Phaiboon Jaranap
On the following charges:
1. conspiring to act, either in word or other means,
in a way that not permitted under the constitution;
2. acting as a criminal association through the
plotting with five or more persons in order to commit
a crime;
3. assembling together of more than ten persons with
the use of force or the threat of the use of force, in
acting in any manner that causes disturbances or
unrest in the country;
4. When [state] officials order those assembling to
commit a crime according to provision 215 [of the
criminal code] to cease, and such persons do not, the
punishment shall be imprisonment of [not more than]
three years or a fine not more than 6,000 baht, or
both.
5. Damaging property which is used or kept for the
public good.
6. Entering the immovable property of another in order
to occupy [or take control of] said immovable
property. When those with right to prohibit such
action orders [such persons] away, and such persons
are of two or more who have joined to trespass during
the night.
7. Causing damage and devaluation, or rendering
useless the dam and power station which EGAT [the
Engergy Generating Authority of Thailand] built, or
the property of EGAT.
The Assembly of the Poor challenged Prime Minister
Chuan Leekpai to come and see for himself to what
extent the fish used the fish ladder because the prime
minister has recently said that the fish are able to
climb the fish ladder as they would in nature. The
Assembly claims that the prime minister has not been
given the facts by the various government agencies
directly involved and so he should come personally.
[Translated lossely]
-_______________
Stand-off as dam protesters stay put
BY PONGSAK BAI-NGERN The Nation
UBON RATCHATHANI - About 1,000 protesters remained at Pak Mool Dam last
night after practising dodging water cannons and breathing through wet
cloth during the day. Meanwhile, 300 police officers stood assembled six
kilometres away, ready to move in should the order be given.
Governor Siwa Saengmanee vowed to remove the protesters by the end of the
night. Earlier this week, he had set yesterday as the deadline for them to
leave peacefully or face arrest.
The protesters vowed to remain until the government meets their demand to
open the dam's water gates to allow fish to migrate into the area.
Earlier in the day Siwa met with the protesters and proposed that the
dispute be settled by an arbitration committee. The protesters rejected the
proposal and Siwa's request that they leave.
Siwa was later taken to a hospital and treated for fatigue and high blood
pressure.
At dusk, police officers, defence volunteers and Egat officials took turns
driving past the site. Meanwhile, 200 policemen from a special task force
and 100 border patrol officers stood by at Sirinthorn Dam six kilometres away.
Wanida Tantiwitthayapitak, an adviser to the Assembly of the Poor, one of
the groups advising the protesters, yesterday said she feared that
authorities would rally a group of rival villagers to confront the
protesters before sending police to disperse them.
Villagers from several fishing communities along the Mool River seized the
Pak Mool Dam's power plant on Monday. They demanded that the government
order the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) to open the
dam's water gates.
The villagers say the dam prevents Mekong River fish from migrating into
the area to feed and spawn. They say the dam, which was completed in 1994,
has seriously depleted the number of fish in the Mool River and disrupted
their livelihood as a result.
The decision by a group of senators to visit the site to investigate
firsthand caused speculation that the protesters might be removed by force.
The protesters claim the government wants to break up their demonstration
before the senators, including Sopon Supapong and Damrong Puttan, visit the
site tomorrow.
Damrong said yesterday that the senators want to find a solution acceptable
to all sides. He said information gathered at the site will be presented to
the full Senate for discussion.
At the protest site, Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign
for Popular Democracy, claimed the Chuan government was using the media to
smear the protesters by claiming they had
destroyed state property.
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai yesterday urged Egat to explain the issue to
the public.
"Egat needs to tell the people about the truth," Chuan said. "It may use
newspapers, radio or TV to explain. Without any explanation, people will
not understand what it is all about and why the government does not try to
solve the problem."
Chuan said the villagers have a right to protest as long as they do not
destroy state property.
"If they do, the authorities have the duty to protect the state property,"
he said.
Meanwhile, in Bangkok student activists from 16 universities and activists
for the poor rallied briefly in front of Government House to demand that
the government stop using the media to distort the issue. They said Egat
officials lied when they claimed the protesters had destroyed state property.
Student activist Naruemol Paiboonsutthikhun called on the government to
order Egat to open the water gates.
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Aviva Imhof
South-East Asia Campaigner
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley CA 94703 USA
Tel: + 1 510 848 1155 (ext. 312), Fax: + 1 510 848 1008
Email: aviva@irn.org, Web: http://www.irn.org
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