Anand
urged to mediate in dam conflict
Senators-elect
makes a trip to trouble spot
Dusit
Singkhiri
Ubon Ratchathani
Bangkok
Post May 22nd, 2000
The
Assembly of the Poor has called for Anand Panyarachun to mediate in the conflict
over Pak Moon dam.
The
call was made by Thongcharoen Sihatham, an assembly member, to a team of
senators-elect who yesterday visited the dam on a fact-finding trip, while
villagers continued to occupy portions of the dam for the seventh day.
The
visiting senators-elect included Sophon Supapong, Damrong Phudtan, Kaewsan
Atipho and Prateep Ungsongtham Hata of Bangkok; Sawai Prammanee of Nakhon
Ratchasima; Maleerat Kaewka of Sakon Nakhon; Niran Pitakwatchara and Vichai
Krongyuth of Ubon Ratchathani.
They
met protesters at the power plant, visited the dam's fish ladder, and held a
meeting with villagers on the left bank of the reservoir.
Preeda
Saputhorn, a leading member of the Assembly of the Poor, repeated the call for
the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to open all of the dam's
spillways for at least a year, to allow fish to swim upstream to spawn.
The
senators-elect then proceeded to Sirindhorn dam in Sirindhorn district, where
they were met by a group of about 500 villagers of the Moon River Protection
Group led by Thiang Banthao.
The
villagers submitted a letter to Mr Kaewsan, saying they were opposed to the
seizure of the Pak Moon dam by the Assembly of the Poor. They used to work with
the assembly but later split to form a new group, claiming the assembly's work
was not transparent.
The
senators-elect later held a meeting with Egat deputy governor M.L. Chanaphan
Kridakorn and deputy governor Prapas Boonyindee, who briefed them on the latest
situation.
M.L.
Chanaphan said yesterday he sent a letter to Ms Vanida Tantivitayapitak, an
assembly leader, asking her to allow mechanics to repair the fourth power plant
which has gone out of order. The request was turned down, he said. Niran
Pitakwatchara, a senator-elect of Ubon Ratchathani, said a special neutral body
should be set up to settle the problems at the Pak Moon dam through peaceful
means.
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