Chuan
orders talks to solve differences
PM wants dialogue to prevent violence
Bangkok Post, May 24, 2000
Prime
Minister Chuan Leekpai has called for a meeting between officials and Pak
Moon dam protesters this Saturday to discuss villagers' demands.
PM's deputy secretary-general
Amnuay Patise said yesterday that Mr Chuan asked him to chair the meeting
on his behalf.Mr Amnuay spoke after meeting representatives from the
electricity generating authority (Egat), Science and Interior ministries
and Irrigation and Fisheries departments.
Mr Chuan emphasised that
peaceful means should be used to resolve the confrontation at the dam site
in Ubon Ratchathani's Khong Chiam district, where hundreds of protesters
have been occupying a parking lot next to the power generating plant for
the past 10 days.
The PM's initiative appeared
to be a response to a chorus of calls from the Assembly of the Poor which
leads the protest, academics, some senators-elect and other organisations
for his personal involvement to end the conflict.
Egat's workers' union and the
Democracy Confederation were the latest groups to call on the government
to bring the conflict to an expeditious and peaceful end.The situation at
the dam site has become increasingly tense amid fears of violence.
Trouble broke out yesterday at
Ubon Ratchathani provincial hall when a group of demonstrators led by
student activists attempted to submit a letter to the governor, demanding
he solve the problem peacefully.
During the demonstration,
Silmonkol Kaew-amatawong, the editor of Rak Ubon, a local newspaper,
shouted abuse at the demonstrators, calling them trouble-makers.A few
moments later he attacked Somporn Khamsawat, a photographer for the
Assembly of the Poor, while he was taking pictures of the event, and
continued kicking him even as Mr Somporn fell down.
Mr Silmonkol was seized by
police and charged with assault but was later released on his personal
recognisance.
The editor was also accused by
Phongsan Techasen, a stringer for Khao Sod newspaper, of threatening him
while he was on duty at the provincial hall.
Meanwhile, Egat warned that it
might be forced to shut down generators at the dam this week if its
workers are not allowed to enter the power plant to perform maintenance
work.
A shutdown would inconvenience
people in Ubon Ratchathani and surrounding provinces, it said.
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