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dam-l LS: Update on the Pak Mun situation since June
This is an update on the situation at Pak Mun Dam since June 2000.
Last May, in response to the Assembly of the Poor (AOP) occupation of the
Pak Mun dam site, the Interior Minister Banyat Bantadtan set up a committee
with a 45-day mandate to address their demands. On July 7 the committee
formally presented its recommendations to the government. The committee
recommended that the Pak Mun dam spillways be opened for four months per
year during the rainy season, from May to August, to allow fish migration
and spawning. The Interior Minister has refused to comply with the
committee's recommendations.
Frustrated by the lack of response from the government, the villagers
decided to go to Bangkok to protest. On July 12 about 700 villagers arrived
in Bangkok by train from Ubon Ratchathani (earlier in the week they had
been refused permission by the State Railway of Thailand to travel on the
train). They began their first day by marching to parliament and submitting
a petition to the senators-elect. Nirand Pitakwatchara, senator-elect from
Ubon Ratchathani, said the senators agreed that the government should act
on the panel's recommendation to open the sluice gates. However, instead of
adhering to the senator's and panel's recommendations, the government
responded by increasing security at Government House, including 300 police
and installation of grilles and double gates.
On the evening of July 16, more than 200 Pak Mun villagers broke into
Government House. Police fired tear gas and wielded batons at the
protesters. Almost 50 people were injured, 10 of whom were admitted into
the hospital, and 225 villagers were arrested and charged with trespassing
and illegal assembly. Most of those arrested were senior citizens, women,
and children, one of whom was only two years old.
Some of those arrested were not even allowed to consult with attorneys and
those that were allowed meetings were closely monitored and videotaped by
the police. The leaders of the protest could face up to five years in
jail. They were charged with invading the Government House compound, an
illegal gathering of more than 10 people, and masterminding a
demonstration. The other people were charged with trespass and illegal
gathering. Police set bail at 30,000 baht for each villager.
The protesters were released on July 19. They believed that the charges had
been dropped, but later discovered that the chairman of the Law Association
of Thailand, Chamroen Waraporn, had posted bail without consulting
them. The villagers have now been ordered to report to the court on July
28, and it is believed that the state will pursue the case in court,
particularly the cases against the leaders.
More than 30 groups representing academics, human rights and democracy
activists, and senators-elect released statements condemning the government
for using force to suppress the unarmed and poor villagers. They demanded
the unconditional release of all detained villagers and opening of the
sluice gates at Pak Mun dam.
Also, more than 40 pro-democracy and activist groups agreed to join the
villagers in their protest at Government House. The groups called on the
government to show its responsibility for the use of force against the
protesters. The activists argued the villagers' constitutional right to
stage a peaceful protest had been violated and demanded those arrested for
trespassing be freed without conditions.
The national police chief denied police had resorted to violence in dealing
with the protesters. Prime Minster Chuan Leekpai defended Sunday's use of
force. He said police did not intend to break up the protest but merely
tried to remove the 200 protesters who entered the Government House because
they were engaged in an illegal act.
In order to save face and end the controversy, Interior Minister Banyat
called an urgent meeting with several ministers on July 18 to discuss a
solution to the problem. The meeting resolved that the problems raised by
the Assembly of the Poor, including the Pak Mun dam, should be discussed at
next Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. However, Banyat said that only some of the
demands could be met. International pressure is still needed to convince
the government to comply
with the demands of the protesters.
Please show your support for the villagers! Speak against the use of
violence, demand that no charges be pressed against the arrested
protesters, and call for the government to comply fully with the
recommendations of the committee, specifically the immediate opening of the
Pak Mun Dam gates. Also ask the government to immediately address the
remaining 15 unresolved issues brought before the government by the
Assembly of the Poor.
Sources: SEARIN updates, Bangkok Post and The Nation articles
For more information see www.irn.org.
Jean Choi, International Rivers Network.