Villagers
told to launch information campaign
Media,
middle class must be targeted
Uamdao Noikorn, Bangkok Post, July 23, 2000
Senators and academics yesterday urged
Pak Moon protesters to launch a campaign to inform urban middle-class
groups and the media about their problems.
|
Students rally at the Democracy Monument in
support of Pak Moon Dam protesters as they join pro-democracy
groups and academics in condemning the government for its rough
handling of Pak Moon villagers who broke into Government House
last Sunday. _ APICHART JINAKUL |
Protesters should establish a network of different social groups to
shore up their deteriorating image and falling public support.
They predicted Tuesday's cabinet meeting would not go well for them
because the government feels it has public support behind it.
"The government has been successful in making the middle class
distrust the villagers and regard them as opportunists," said
political scientist Kasian Techapira from Thammasat University.
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai will compromise but will deliver little,
he said.
His opinion was echoed by about two dozen academics from universities
and institutes countrywide at a round-table discussion on how to end the
conflict with the state, held at Chulalongkorn University. Also attending
were some protesters and NGOs.
Thammasat law lecturer Chusak Witthayapakdi believed the government's
and public's anguish over the protesters stemmed from a lack of
understanding in the "villagers' political strategy".
The state viewed the villagers' attempt to break into Government House
last week as contempt of state power, even though it was only an
attention-getting ploy, he said.
The government's contempt toward the villagers was reflected in its
gestures and choice of words suggesting the protesters were unreasonable
and aggressive, Mr Chusak added.
Protesters must now gain the sympathy and understanding of the middle
class and the media, the academics agreed.
Mr Kasian said the middle class and the government's backers should top
their list, as they had the biggest impact on the government's survival.
Senator Wallop Tangkananulak suggested that the Assembly of the Poor
launch three campaigns to gain public sympathy. These include opening
public discussion on scientific and statistical facts about the dam's
impact, and engaging in dialogue with the media.
He was worried about rumours now making the rounds. For example, the
protesters had been paid to stage the protest which was why they managed
to sustain their prolonged rally, and that protest leaders slept in
hotels, leaving their followers to sleep in the street.
"I think these questions must be answered to regain the trust of
society. You must do it before the whole of Bangkok turns against
you," he said.
Chairman of the Union for Civil Liberty Charan Dhitaphichai called on
Mr Chuan to reduce the number of police deployed at Government House. The
scene "spoils the atmosphere of democracy", he said.
"While the government claims the sight of a mob ruins Thailand's
reputation for tourism, its ill treatment of the group is even
worse," he said.
Kritiya Achavanitkul of Mahidol University's Institute of Population
and Social Research suggested the villagers, rallying under the Assembly
of the Poor's umbrella, seek an alliance with all parties concerned and
set up a committee to solve long-term problems, while countering the
government's excuses and accusations.
"Chances are the state's going to launch a new committee to look
at the issues again, and it'll go nowhere if you don't start your
own," she said.
|