Thai
Rak Thai MPs support protesters
Villagers
delay test opening of gates
Bangkok
Post, May 21, 2001
Four
Thai Rak Thai MPs have joined protesting Hua Haew villagers in opposing a
cabinet resolution to open the Pak Moon dam floodgates on a trial basis
for four months.
The
villagers' protest prevented the planned opening of the gates on May 15.
They remain closed.
Supol
Fong-ngam, Adisak Pokkulkanont, Suchart Tantiwanichanont and Sitthichai
Kowsurat said Hua Haew villagers farm fish in the dam reservoir and were
worried about the effect of lowering the water level.
The
government earlier reached an agreement with the Assembly of the Poor to
open the eight gates for four months, to allow fish in the Moon river to
spawn upstream behind the dam.
The
assembly has been backing local villagers who oppose the Pak Moon dam,
arguing it has hurt their livelihood, had a bad effect on the river and
prevented fish moving upstream to breed.
Mr
Adisak said Hua Haew protest leader Suphan Wangpol told him they would use
all means available to obstruct the opening of the gates.
Mr
Suchart said opening the gates would empty water into the Mekong river and
lower the level in the reservoir. It needed careful study first.
PM's
Office Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng visited the dam yesterday. He said
without the test-opening there was no way to gauge the effect of releasing
water on the reservoir and on the fish population. Without this
information the conflict over the dam would bog down once again.
Pongpol
Adireksarn, the deputy prime minister overseeing the problem, was expected
to set up two committees to monitor the impact of opening the gates.
Villagers
could rest assured that they would be fully compensated for any damage
that might be caused to their business, Mr Chaturon said.
The
minister later yesterday talked with Mae Moon Man Yuen villagers, who
support opening the gates. They insisted the government honour its
promise.
About
500 Mae Moon Man Yuen villagers have been protesting over the delay in
opening the flood gates.
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