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DAM-L LS: Chuan agrees to demand for televised public forum (fwd)
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subject: LS: Chuan agrees to demand for televised public forum
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Chuan agrees to demand for televised public forum
Hunger strikers wary of fasting guru
Ampa Santimetanidol, Anchalee Kongrut and Yuwadee Tanyasiri
Bangkok Post, Aug 1, 2000
The government has agreed to hold a televised public forum on the demands
of the Assembly of the Poor on Aug 3, while political activists have vowed
to close the road in front of Government House every evening until the
House of Representatives is dissolved.
Akapol Sorasuchart, the government spokesman, yesterday said the government
has accepted the protesters' demand to hold a public forum.
"The benefit of this public forum is that the government will be able to
clarify why it cannot fulfil all 16 demands and what else the government
can do to make up for what has been rejected," he said.
Participants would include ministers and high-ranking officials from the
ministries of Science, Agriculture and Interior, neutral parties, as well
as members of the Assembly of the Poor.
The assembly last week had proposed Senator Chermsak Pinthong as the moderator.
But Wanida Tantiwittayapitak, adviser of the assembly, said yesterday that
the assembly has not been informed of the decision to hold a public forum.
In another development, some 1,500 political activists last night sealed
off Phitsanulok Road in front of Government House, to pressure Prime
Minister Chuan Leekpai into calling a general election.
The movement was organised by the Democracy Network, which held a similar
event at Sanam Luang over the weekend. The activists vowed to close
Phitsanulok Road every day from 7pm to 2am until Mr Chuan announces the
House dissolution.
Phitsanulok road last night was crowded with people from various walks of
life. Businessmen like Amarin Khoman and "songs for life" singers like
Phongsit Khamphi went on stage to air their views. Pibhop Dhongchai,
secretary-general of Campaign for Popular Democracy, said the movement's
organisers were testing political winds by setting the stage every evening
to gauge public reception.
Chalard Worachat, the guru of hunger strikes who fasted for 45 days before
the Black May massacre in 1992, joined the hunger strike yesterday, which
was his birthday.
However, protest leaders appeared to feel uneasy about his involvement,
knowing he is a member of the New Aspiration Party. They tried
unsuccess-fully to persuade him to stage his fast elsewhere. Mr Chalard's
involvement came as 20 of the 40 hunger strikers were sent to hospital over
the weekend. They were immediately replaced by another 20 volunteers.
Meanwhile, the NGO Co-ordinating Committee on Development will today submit
a letter urging the government to promptly set up the public forum.
Saree Ongsomwang, the committee's deputy secretary-general, urged the
government to stop its mudslinging against non-governmental organisations.
Its claim that NGOs receive foreign funds, though correct, has caused a
rift within the country, she said.
She pointed out that the government itself received and borrowed funds from
foreign sources such as the Miyazawa Plan, the Asian Development Bank, and
the World Bank. Moreover, many projects were problematic and lacked
transparency, she said.
"We admit that NGOs receive foreign funds. But NGOs promise nothing in
return. Unlike the government, we are open to scrutiny about our balance
sheets," Ms Saree said.
More anti-riot gear
The police plan to buy more anti-riot gear to cope with increasing protest
activities against the government.
Pol Gen Sant Sarutanont, deputy national police chief, believe there would
be more protest rallies nationwide to pressure for a House dissolution.
He said since police have been told not to use force to quell protests, he
has asked the national police chief to seek additional funds to buy more
equip ment needed for crowd control.
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