Protesters
threaten hunger strike
The Nation July 24, 2000
THE protesters encamped in front of Government
House for more than a week yesterday threatened to go on a hunger strike
if the government ignores their demands to do something about diminished
fish supplies caused by Pak Mool dam.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Banyat
Bantadtan pledged to consider the protesters' demands at tomorrow's
Cabinet meeting, but stopped short of promising to meet all their demands.
However, there could be double compensation for
those affected by the dam's construction, he added.
Protesters from the Assembly of the Poor yesterday
said they were waiting for the government's response following the
meeting. If their plight is ignored, they intend to use a hunger strike to
force the government to address their concerns, they said.
Si Duangmong, 70, said he is prepared to fast.
Plaeng Kaewsaeng, 64, of Ubon Ratchathani's Khongchiam district, said she
is also ready.
Banyat said that the criticism of the government's
handling of the protestors by pro-democracy organisations, trade unions
and academics lacks nationwide support.
Farmers' organisations critical of the government
yesterday denounced the Prime Minister's suit against the Khao Sot
newspaper for calling him a tyrant. They also criticised special branch
police commissioner and Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwankhiri for his
off-the-cuff remarks about the matter.
The groups called on the government to use its
fact-finding committee's report to solve the Pak Mool dam conflict.
The government should "stop creating confusion
and distorting facts", they said.
The group urged Banyat not to prevent protesters
from marching on the capital.
Meanwhile, a group of protesters gathered in Chiang
Mai city's Pratu Thaphae neighbourhood. They distributed flyers attacking
the government.
A group of southern farmers gathered in Surat Thani
to show their moral support for their counterparts in Bangkok.
Religious activists led by Japanese Mahayana
Buddhist monk Muratami and leader of international pacifists Yeashua Moser
have expressed support for the protesters, saying the government should
not consider them to be troublemakers.
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