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DAM-L LS: EGAT Aiding Pro-Dam Villagers (fwd)
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Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 23:55:39 -0700 (PDT)
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Subject: LS: EGAT Aiding Pro-Dam Villagers
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Bangkok Post, June 1, 2001
Egat aiding rival rally, say activists
Public hearing set for June 23-24
Kultida Samabuddhi
The electricity generating authority is behind the protest at Pak Moon
against the opening of the sluice gates, according to the Assembly of the Poor.
"We saw Egat officials deliver fuel and food to the group," Nantachote
Chairat, a spokesman for the assembly, said yesterday. More than 50 fishing
boats are blockading the river to stop the gates opening.
While the dam's opponents, led by the assembly, want Egat to comply with a
cabinet ruling to open the gates to allow fish to spawn upstream, villagers
who make their living from raising fish want the gates to stay closed.
Mr Nantachote said Mae Moon Mun Yeun villagers, who demanded Egat open the
gates, were told by officials their village would be set on fire if they
continued their protest.
"Egat is truly an independent organisation," he said, "even the Prime
Minister could not restrain them."Mr Thaksin recently visited the dam site
in Ubon Ratchathani. He insisted the spillways be opened, as agreed, and an
environmental impact study be made to determine the effect on the river and
fish stocks.
But Egat has lifted only two gates to create a 20cm high opening so far, Mr
Nantachote said. That could not be deemed as opening the sluice gates.
Senator Sopon Supapong, a member of a committee doing the environmental
study, urged Chaturon Chaisaeng, PM's Office Minister overseeing Egat, to
intervene. Amnart Chotchuang, Egat public relations director, denied Egat
was supporting the fishermen. "Our officials are just familiar with them,
the same as we are familiar with Mae Moon Mun Yeun villagers."Mr Amnart
said the authority did not want to flout a cabinet decision, but opening
all the gates would put the protesters at risk.
"Egat is a state agency which works to carry out government policy. We are
ready to open the gates as soon as protesters move from the reservoir."Mr
Amnart said Egat had opened the two gates by just half a metre, and adverse
effects on villagers living behind the dam were already apparent. Also, Lao
people living along the Mekong river were worried that a strong current of
water would destroy the river banks, he said. - A public hearing on opening
the gates will be held this month.
Chaiyant Ratchakul, who chairs a fact-finding committee, said it would be
held on June 23-24. Opinions gauged from the hearing would be forwarded to
Deputy Prime Minister Pongpol Adireksarn, the dean of Ubon Ratchathani
University's arts faculty said.
_________________________________
Bangkok Post, May 29, 2001
Inquiry call as all gates still closed
Egat seen disobeying cabinet resolution
Opponents of Pak Moon dam in Ubon Ratchathani have demanded an inquiry
against the power agency for failing to open the dam's sluice gates as
required by a cabinet resolution.
Yesterday they lodged a petition with the senate speaker and with the
senate environment panel, accusing the Electricity Generating Authority of
Thailand of failure to comply with a cabinet resolution for the authority
to open the dam's eight sluice gates between May-August to allow fish to
spawn upstream.
The protesters, led by Lamduan Selathong of Assembly of the Poor, also
accused Egat of causing disunity among area villagers.
They claimed Egat was behind a rival group of villagers who were protesting
against the opening of the sluice gates.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Friday ordered the Electricity
Generating Authority to open all the gates when it was ready.
Mr Thaksin said the cabinet resolution must be obeyed.
Senate Speaker Manoonkrit Roopkachorn accepted the protesters' petition and
promised to forward it to the government.
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