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DAM-L LS: Govt backs AOP public hearing/Rasi Salai dam <fwd>
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Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 17:37:22 -0700 (PDT)
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subject: LS: Govt backs AOP public hearing
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Govt backs AOP public hearing
THE government is ready to hold a public
hearing on Thursday in an attempt to solve the
Assembly of the Poor (AOP )'s 16 grievances,
government spokesman Akapol Sorasuchart
said yesterday.
Responding to an AOP proposal for such a
hearing, Akapol said the government was
ready to arrange and televise the event,
expected to include representatives from all
concerned parties. "I believe that this public
hearing will bring about effective solutions," he
said.
Akapol said he thought that the government
would also make it clear why it could not
resolve some of the protesters' demands, while
offering alternative solutions.
Meanwhile AOP advisor Nitirat Subsomboon
called on the government to let academic
institutions arrange the hearing. He also
suggested that Senator Chirmsak Pinthong
should be the moderator and that the AOP
leaders, concerned ministers and neutral
committee members who had earlier been
appointed to look into the assembly's problems
attend the event.
Another AOP leader, Paichit Silarak, said the
protesters would continue with their hunger
strike, adding that more volunteers would be
found to replace weakened participants.
Well-known activist Chalad Worachat, dressed
in white, yesterday joined the hunger strike and
vowed to fast until August 8.
AOP advisor Chaipan Prapatwas said
Chalad's participation would not cause any
problems despite the fact he would attract
additional reporters to the protest site, which
could disturb other protesters on hunger strike.
Chaipan also dismissed speculation that
Chalad's affiliation with a certain political party
would make people think that a third party was
behind the protest movement, saying that many
politicians had visited the protesters and given
them basic necessities.
In another development in Si Sa Ket, more than
1,000 Rasi Salai Dam protesters, led by the
AOP, said yesterday they would join the hunger
strike outside Government House.
Protest leader Pranee Rungruang said
transport arrangements were being prepared.
Meanwhile Metropolitan Police Commissioner
Lt-General Wannarat Kotcharak yesterday
convened an urgent meeting to come up with
measures to prepare police for future
developments concerning the protest
movement.
After the meeting Deputy Metropolitan Police
Commissioner Maj-General Damrongsak
Nilkuha said that more police officers from
Provincial Police Regions 1, 2 and 7, as well as
border police, would be brought in.
The Nation
LAST MODIFIED: Monday, 31-Jul-2000 12:55:13
EDT
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