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dam-l LS: Mediator suggested for Pak Mun
Mediator suggested for dam protest, The Nation, May 23, 2000
A GROUP of 15 senators elect yesterday proposed that a Thammasat University
professor be appointed mediator to resolve the conflict relating to the Pak
Mool Dam.
Senator elect Sopon Supapong said social academic Bandit Onkham was the
most suitable person to bring the conflict to a peaceful ending.
"Bandit is a respected professor who can talk to the local villagers and
the government," he said.
"The conflict arising from the construction of Pak Mool Dam is a structural
problem of development. The development project was determined by the
authorities, and villagers have risen up to fight its consequences that
they have had to suffer."
Thousands of villagers continued their sit-in protest near the dam-site,
demanding the opening of eight dam gates to allow fish to spawn upstream in
the Mool River, a tributary of the Mekong.
The protesting villagers argue that the dam prevents fish from reaching
their spawning grounds and has an adverse impact on the local fishing
industry.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), which operates the
dam and its hydro-powered plant, countered that opening the dam gates was
impractical and unnecessary since it had already constructed a fish ladder
to allow fish to circumvent the gates and enter their spawning grounds.
Villagers in turn say this measure has not been successful.
As part of yesterday's rally the Student Federation of Thailand staged a
political play to highlight the failure of the ladder to help the fish.
An international study commissioned by 56 non-governmental organisations in
34 countries revealed that fish stock in the Mool has dropped 60 to 70 per
cent since the dam's construction, student leader Pinkaew Unkaew said.
In a related development, Egat filed a police compliant charging 14 core
protesters on seven counts of criminal violation.
To counter the Egat's move, protesters gathered 1,000 signatures to endorse
a petition demanding law-enforcement authorities take action against all of
them instead of just their leaders.
The protesters apparently fear authorities may try to remove their leaders
before using force to disperse the demonstration.
Ubon Ratchathani police commander Maj-General Bamrung Sukhapanit warned
that the challenge to police to arrest all protesters might not be a smart
legal move.
"Protesters may not be aware that they have tacitly admitted to wrongdoing
by petitioning police to arrest them on the charges filed by Egat," he said.
Bamrung said the complaint against protest leaders would be processed in
accordance with established procedure.
Senator elect Sawai Phramanee said although protesters had the right to air
their grievances they should not stage their sit-in so as to disrupt the
operation of the dam.
Sawai also voiced concern that an ill-intentioned party might try and
instigate a violent confrontation between protesters and authorities.
Meanwhile, officials at the Rasi Salai Dam in Si Sa Ket province yesterday
returned to work after protesting villagers took over the dam on Friday and
Saturday.
About 1,000 protesters remained camping on the dam grounds but left the
office buildings, releasing about 20 officials trapped during the raid.
The officials were responsible for regulating the dam gates to maintain the
water level in the Mool.
Si Sa Ket governor Kosin Ketthong pleaded with protesting villagers to
exercise restraint and avoid damaging government property.
In a related development, a leading opponent of the Rasi Salai Dam drowned
on Sunday after falling in his home, which had been partly submerged by the
dam's rising waters. Boonhoam Chaiyong, 60, was pronounced dead at a
hospital in Si Sa Ket.
Boonhoam reportedly slipped after entering his house in Mae Mun Man Yeun
Village 11. Boonhoam's house is in the dam's reservoir and is gradually
being submerged.
Yesterday Boonhoam's family held a cremation ceremony. Members of the
Assembly of the Poor at the Rasi Salai Dam crest have collectively
expressed their condolences.
The Nation
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