The Nation , Aug 6, 2000

THE Assembly of the Poor protest outside Government House is becoming more drastic, with an estimated 545 members, including a one-year-old girl, now taking part in its hunger strike, an Assembly spokesman said yesterday.

"This serves to get the message across to the government and the general public that we have a problem that is real and needs the attention of the government - that we are not on strike for hire," said Khampian Sithanuan, one of the hunger strikers.

At the ceremonial declaration of the strike's beginning, participants said the action is an attempt to ensure that "justice prevails over injustice."

Assembly of the Poor advisor Wanida Tantiwithayaphithak said the protesters sincerely want the government to help solve their problems, which include being left landless by government reforestation projects and environmental damage from state-built dams.

Rally leader Phakdee Janthakiat said the protesters had been forced to go on the hunger strike because they had exhausted all other means of making their plight known to the government.

He said the protesters would not participate in a televised public hearing scheduled for Monday at a studio at Channel 11, which is controlled by the government.

Phakdee said the protestors do not feel comfortable about the Channel 11 facility because of suspicions the government could take advantage of them there.

Chen Homsin, 88, who is taking part in the fast to demand government action over the Pak Mool Dam, said he is willing to die if the government does not respond to the villagers' complaints.

He was joined by 70-year-old Pin Jaengsoongnoen, who is protesting against the Lam Khan Chu dam, and by Ruang-yot Khongkhotfaet, 41, who said she and her one-year-old daughter would continue with the strike, recalling that she and her baby had already gone through jail and tear gas.

The hunger strike is well organised. Supervised by 40 "sitters", the protesters are divided into four zones in separate localities, including a "food free" zone on Rama V Road opposite the Phranakhon Commercial School.

The demonstrators made it known that their gathering was meant to express that the poverty they live under is not the consequence of laziness but, rather, a result of the government's development efforts gone awry.

Student body secretary-general Sarayut Klailak said the Chuan Leekpai government has been extremely successful in its use red herrings, and that it has never come up with real solutions for the villagers' problems.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Banyat Bantadtan declined to comment on a statement by Chuan aide Alongkorn Polabutr, who reportedly said that telecommunications tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai party is behind the rallies that have taken place in front of Government House.

"Go ask Alongkorn yourselves," he told a press conference. "The government," he said, "has no ulterior aim in handling the problem. We're trying to meet the demands as much as we possibly can."

Yesterday, the protesters representing the Assembly of the Poor and employees of Thai Kriang Textile Co were camped in front of Government House, leaving two lanes of the road surface open to traffic and refusing to remove the tents and makeshift homes they set up when the protests began more than a year ago.

They also dismissed speculation that they have broken into the prime minister's official residence, Baan Phisanulok.

Police are keeping a 24-hour vigil in the area surrounding the rallies. About 400 protesters were to be gathering in front of Agriculture Ministry offices on the Rajdamnoen Nok Avenue.