Protest
chief dares police to act
Egat
files charges against 14 villagers
Dusit
Singhkhiri Wut Nontharit
Ubon Ratchathani
and Bangkok
Bangkok Post
May 23rd, 2000
A protest leader challenged authorities yesterday to arrest more than 1,000
villagers who have been demonstrating on sections of the Pak Moon dam for eight
days.
Phakdi
Chanla-iat, one of 14 protesters facing serious charges lodged by the
electricity generating authority, said the Ubon Ratchathani governor would be
given a list of the protesters.
Mr Phakdi,
of the Assembly of the Poor, said Egat's charges were designed to threaten other
villagers.
"Those
are serious charges and the charge of criminal assembly is unjust."
Pol Maj-Gen
Bamrung Sukphanich, chief of Ubon Ratchathani police, urged the protesters to
think twice before signing their names on the list because it would be construed
as an admission of guilt. None of the 14 leaders were questioned in connection
with the charges filed at Sirindhorn police station.
Governor
Siva Saengmanee said force would not be used against protesters except in case
of damage.
He urged
the protesters to allow mechanics to repair the fourth power generator which has
gone out of order, saying he would invite their representatives for talks today.
"The
officials should be allowed to repair the machines before there is any damage
which would not be good for either side," he said.
The
Students Federation of Thailand staged a mock construction of the dam's fish
ladder while some 28 fishing boats were used to form the words "NO
DAM".
A group of
senators-elect called on the government to look into the problem and came up
with a national policy to solve the problem.
"Instead
of letting provincial authorities and Egat officials handle the problem, the
government should come up with something. It shouldn't wait for a rally,"
said senator-elect Sawai Prammanee, who visited the site on Sunday.
He called
for a neutral panel to handle the conflict after the Assembly of the Poor asked
Anand Panyarachun to mediate.
Mr Sawai
said a neutral committee was needed because of mistrust between the protesters
and the authorities.
Senators-elect
in the province should act as mediators and keep out interferences that might
cause harm, he said.
Bangkok
senator-elect Sophon Suphapong has been asked to present a report to the
government.
He said
Banthorn Ondam, a social affairs specialist of Thammasat University, would be
ideal for the job because he would be respected by all parties.
The
senator-elect also called on the government to keep an open mind and allow the
villagers to have their say on the issue.
He also
said he would propose the establishment of a panel to work on natural resources
and poverty, when the Senate convenes.
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