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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.

 
 

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