Assembly
to go on hunger strike
Last-ditch
effort to pressure government
Bangkok Post, July 24, 2000
The
Assembly of the Poor has announced it will stage a hunger strike to
pressure the government to solve the problems of the poor.
Bunchoo
Savisa, a leading member, said it was decided that 800 forum members would
stage a peaceful hunger strike in protest against the government's
sluggishness in solving 16 major problems affected by the rural poor.
He appealed
to the public to understand the hardship of the rural poor who simply
wanted authorities to alleviate their grievances.
Assembly
members who volunteered to join the hunger strike went to Wat Benjamabopit
where they prayed and listened to advice from a Japanese Buddhist monk who
led a hunger strike against nuclear weapons.
The
announcement is the latest in a series of measures to pressure the
government to accept the recommendations of a government-appointed
committee chaired by academic Banthorn On-dam.
Supporters
of the assembly are expected to descend on Bangkok by the thousands today
and tomorrow when the cabinet meets to decide on the committee's
recommendations.
Several
pro-democracy and civic action groups have already announced campaigns to
force Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai to dissolve the House of
Representatives.
Deputy
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Banyat Bantadtan said the attempt by
pressure groups to force the government to meet their demands was normal.
He admitted
the government was heavy-hearted about solving the problems of the poor.
Mr Banyat
said the assembly was just trying to draw public attention by encouraging
supporters to wear black.
House
Speaker and Democrat executive Bhichai Rattakul did not believe the
planned rallies would lead to the House dissolution.
The
assembly criticised the government for failing to solve the problems at
root cause and said it had to be done at the policy level.
The
assembly slammed the government for issuing the June 30, 1998, resolution
to undermine efforts to tackle the problems of farmers.
The
resolution scrapped two earlier ones issued in April, 1997, during the
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh administration which allowed landless farmers to
remain on forest land which they occupied in the North and the Northeast.
The
resolutions were adopted on April 17 and 29, 1997, after farmers' groups
raised forest and land disputes for discussion during their 99-day protest
rally at Government House.
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