Villagers'
march draws flak
The Nation
DEPUTY Prime Minister
and Interior Minister Banyat Bantadtan yesterday came down heavily on
reported plans by residents of Chaiyaphum and Ubon Ratchathani to march by
rail to Government House via Hua Lampong station today.
"If residents of
Bangkok joined hands to oppose these mobs, they would probably think
better [of coming]," Banyat said.
He added that the
government could not stop them entering the railway station and the
platforms, because they were public places. "And it would be ill
advised for the government to use force," he said.
The villagers,
protesting against the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand's Pak
Mool dam, claim that the dam threatens their livelihood since it blocks
the spawning route of fishupstream into the Mool River.
About 200 protesters are
gathering at Hua Lampong to wait for other Northeastern villagers to join
them. Residents of Ubon Ratchathani, and Chaiyaphum were reportedly
planning to come to Bangkok by rail, with about 700 from Ubon Ratchathani
reported to have boarded a train bound for the capital yesterday
afternoon.
The State Railway of
Thailand on Monday barred the villagers from taking the train for fear
that they would inconvenience other passengers but allowed their trip
yesterday after mediation by provincial authorities. From Hua Lampong the
two groups of protesters plan to march together along the railway to
Government House after they unite today.
City authorities have
voiced concern that the protesters will make a mess at Hua Lampong
station, and railway officials have vowed not to allow the protesters,
estimated to number over one thousand, to cook inside the station. The
mobile toilets provided by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration are
expected to be inadequate for such large numbers.
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