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Hearing to stress
unity
the Nation, Aug 11, 2000
NO banners, symbols of affiliation or distribution of documents will be
allowed at the public hearing co-organised by the government and the
Assembly of the Poor (AOP), scheduled for next Thursday, Thammasat
University lecturer Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said yesterday.
Somchai, who is acting as the mediator between the two parties, said the ban
was necessary to eradicate the feelings of division among the participants.
"The public hearing is not a confrontation. It's a time when both
parties
turn to each other with the aim of reaching understanding," he said.
Speaking after a meeting to draw up the public hearing's framework, Somchai
also disclosed that both parties had agreed on Senator Chirmsak Pinthong,
Thepchai Yong and Chaiwat Satha-anan as potential moderators.
"The moderator has limited duties. He is not expected to make any
conclusions but only to monitor the time of each representative's
presentation," Somchai said.
Chirmsak, however, has declined to act as moderator at the public hearing,
citing the limited role, while both Thepchai and Chaiwat said they could not
perform the task because they had prior engagements.
The three issues of forestland encroachment, dams, and land grievances will
be discussed at the hearing. Representatives from both parties will be given
a brief amount of time to speak. After their presentations, there will be a
question-and-answer session.
Somchai also said as Thammasat's Small Auditorium, the public hearing venue,
could accommodate only 800 people, AOP was limited to taking 200 of its
members inside. The remaining seats will be reserved for the public.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob and Royal Forestry Department
(RFD) director-general Plodprasop Suraswadi will give a presentation on the
problem of AOP members allegedly encroaching on national forestland, said
PM's personal secretary Alongkorn Polabutr.
PM's Office Minister Savit Bodhivihok and Deputy Science Minister Pornthep
Tejapaibul will speak on the ongoing dam issues, while Deputy Interior
Minister Vattana Asavahame and Land Department director-general Vichien
Ratanabirabongse will discuss land grievances, Alongkorn said.
Alongkorn said he, government spokesman Akapol Sorasuchart and deputy prime
minister's secretary-general Amnuay Patise will be responsible for the
question-and-answer session.
In a separate development, AOP advisor Laotai Nilnual said aides to the
RFD's Plodprasop had threatened him and his associate throughout the
production of a television programme to which Laotai and Plodprasop had been
invited to discuss the land controversy.
"They bawled us out and acted as if they were going to take weapons
out,"
Laotai said, adding he was considering filing a complaint with police.
Laotai said the threat might have resulted from the fact that he played up
the inequality in land possession for the poor and the rich during the
programme, citing as an example the "Rai Suraswadi" land plot
owned by
Plodprasop's brother which contains a river source.
Laotai said poor people would never have been allowed to possess a plot of
land with a river source.
Quest for moderator
stalls
Bangkok Post, PUBLIC FORUM
Ampa Santimetanidol and Anchalee Kongrut
The search for a moderator for the long-awaited public forum on dam and
forestry issues is off to a rocky start-one of the nominees has reservations
and the others are abroad.
Senator Chirmsak Pinthong, a popular TV talk-show host, said he would like
the rules changed to allow the moderator a freer hand.
Mr Chirmsak, Chaiwat Satha-anan, a lecturer at Thammasat University, and
Thepchai Yong of iTV were nominated by the Assembly of the Poor and the
government to moderate the talks, scheduled on Aug 17 at Thammasat
University's small auditorium. The task of approaching the three men was
given to PollWatch Foundation and Thammasat University.
Panelists at the forum will include Plodprasob Suraswadi, chief of the
Forestry Department, Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob, PM's Office
Minister Savit Bhodivihok and Wanida Tantiwitthayapitak, a grassroot
activist.
Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, secretary of PollWatch, said the moderator would be
a time-keeper and would not be allowed to question or interrupt the
panelists. He was not sure if Mr Chirmsak's demand would be acceptable.
Mr Somchai said he would pass over Mr Chaiwat and Mr Thepchai and would look
for other candidates.
Mr Chaiwat is in Finland and will not be back until Aug 15, and Mr Thepchai
is due back from East Timor today.
Other candidates include Chalidaporn Songsamphan and Sukhum Attaravuthichai,
both lecturers at Thammasat University, Adisak Srisom, moderator at Channel
11, Pornchai Weeranarong, moderator at INN radio news, and Chaiya Yimvilai,
moderator of Headline News on Channel 5.
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