eng homeabout usmekong riversalween rivermun riverthai baan researchpublication
 

Protesters threatened with arrest

BY Pennapa Hongthong

The Nation, May 17, 2000 

UBON RATCHATHANI – Provincial governor Siwa Saengmanee yesterday set a deadline of Friday for villagers protesting at Pak Mool dam to leave the site, or face arrest.

Ubon Ratchathani’s Governor said if the protestors had not left the site within three days they would face arrest.

As many as 1,000 villagers are currently protesting against the dam, which they say has destroyed prime local fisheries. They have asked the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to open the dam’s gates to allow the river to flow in the hope of replenishing local fish.

But the governor yesterday deemed their protest illegal, saying they were obstructing the dam’s operation.

He accused the villagers of trying to damage state property, because they had maneuvered their boats into a restricted area of the reservoir.

They had sailed close to the lockboom used to prevent floating sewage passing through the dam’s electricity generating engine, he said.

According to witnesses, the villagers carried only fishing instruments called chamuak (spears).

Local officials have said that the governor’s stance does not reflect the will of the people.

“I don’t consider them villagers, but protesters,” Siwa said.

“They tend to be more and more violent. I cannot let them protest freely anymore.”

Siwa added that people would not support provincial authorities who allowed breaches of the law.

The governor yesterday afternoon sent his deputy, Prapas Boonyindee, to meet the villagers’ leader Wanida Tantiwittayaphitak to inform him of the Friday deadline.

About 500 protesters remain at the site and more fishermen have sailed their boats into the dam reservoir.

The rest of the villagers have moved their protest to a nearby area where they have established a temporary settlement.

About 400 police have been sent to take control of the area.

The protesters yesterday insisted they would not be moved until authorities conceded to their demands.

The group is demanding the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the dam’s owner, admit the dam has destroyed fisheries and killed local fish stocks.

 
 

สมาคมแม่น้ำเพื่อชีวิต   138/1 หมู่ 4 ต.สุเทพ อ.เมือง จ.เชียงใหม่   50200
Living River Siam Association  138 Moo 4, Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai, 50200   Thailand
Tel. & Fax.: (66)-       E-mail : admin@livingriversiam.org

ข้อมูลในเวปนี้สามารถนำไปเผยแพร่ได้โดยอ้างอิงแหล่งที่มา