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dam-l LS: Chuan orders talks on Pak Mun
Chuan orders talks to solve differences
PM wants dialogue to prevent violence
Bangkok Post, May 24, 2000
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has called for a meeting between officials and
Pak Moon dam protesters this Saturday to discuss villagers' demands.
PM's deputy secretary-general Amnuay Patise said yesterday that Mr Chuan
asked him to chair the meeting on his behalf.Mr Amnuay spoke after meeting
representatives from the electricity generating authority (Egat), Science
and Interior ministries and Irrigation and Fisheries departments.
Mr Chuan emphasised that peaceful means should be used to resolve the
confrontation at the dam site in Ubon Ratchathani's Khong Chiam district,
where hundreds of protesters have been occupying a parking lot next to the
power generating plant for the past 10 days.
The PM's initiative appeared to be a response to a chorus of calls from the
Assembly of the Poor which leads the protest, academics, some
senators-elect and other organisations for his personal involvement to end
the conflict.
Egat's workers' union and the Democracy Confederation were the latest
groups to call on the government to bring the conflict to an expeditious
and peaceful end.The situation at the dam site has become increasingly
tense amid fears of violence.
Trouble broke out yesterday at Ubon Ratchathani provincial hall when a
group of demonstrators led by student activists attempted to submit a
letter to the governor, demanding he solve the problem peacefully.
During the demonstration, Silmonkol Kaew-amatawong, the editor of Rak Ubon,
a local newspaper, shouted abuse at the demonstrators, calling them
trouble-makers.A few moments later he attacked Somporn Khamsawat, a
photographer for the Assembly of the Poor, while he was taking pictures of
the event, and continued kicking him even as Mr Somporn fell down.
Mr Silmonkol was seized by police and charged with assault but was later
released on his personal recognisance.
The editor was also accused by Phongsan Techasen, a stringer for Khao Sod
newspaper, of threatening him while he was on duty at the provincial hall.
Meanwhile, Egat warned that it might be forced to shut down generators at
the dam this week if its workers are not allowed to enter the power plant
to perform maintenance work.
A shutdown would inconvenience people in Ubon Ratchathani and surrounding
provinces, it said.
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Southeast Asia Rivers Network (SEARIN)
25/5 Moo 2
Soi Sukhapiban 27
Changkhien-Jed yod Rd.
Chang Phuek
Muang Chiang Mai 50300
Thailand
Tel&Fax (66) 53-221157
Email: searin@chmai.loxinfo.co.th
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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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