Cabinet
yields to demands
Assembly of the Poor ends hunger strike
Mongkol Bangprapa, Ampa Santimetanidol and Anchalee
Kongrut, Bangkok Post, Aug 9, 2000
The government yesterday bowed to
pressure from the Assembly of the Poor and accepted seven out of the eight
recommendations made by a neutral committee charged with solving their
problems.
Government spokesman Akapol Sorasuchart said the cabinet agreed with
seven proposals made by Banthorn On-dam's panel.
The government agreed to:- Allow locals and NGOs to sit on
environmental impact panels.
- Compensate villagers based on actual damage.
- Revamp the National Environmental Committee and allow it to
participate in environmental impact assessments.
- Amend the 1992 Environmental Conservation Bill.
- Allow a multilateral committee comprising state agencies, local
administrations and NGOs to manage water resources with the National Water
Resource Committee.
- Allow the panel to participate in planning and decision-making.
- Amend forest management laws in line with the constitution.
Mr Akapol said the government disagreed with the recommendation to
revoke the cabinet's June 30, 1998 resolution on land claims verification.
The resolution effectively cancelled two earlier resolutions issued by
the Chavalit administration allowing villagers to live in the forests
while their claims were verified by witnesses. The Chuan cabinet
resolution required verification by aerial photos.
Mr Akapol defended the government's resolution, saying the use of
aerial photos would solve the problem of forest encroachment. Copies of
that resolution would be distributed to protesters today, he said.
Assembly of the Poor adviser Wanida Tantiwittayapitak said she had yet
to look into today's proceedings in detail but it appeared the government
was only acting under pressure.
"Last week we got a spoon and this week we got a plate. For
everything we get, we are forced to work extremely hard to pressure the
government for it. I suppose next week we'll get rice."Protesters
yesterday ended their 12-day hunger strike but the assembly was looking
ahead to the possibility of settling down outside Government House for the
long haul.
The end of the hunger strike by some 700 protesters was marked by a
ceremony by Phra Paisarn Visalo, a strong proponent of non-violence
principles.
The villagers will rest for four days to allow hunger strikers to
recuperate. "After the rest, we will decide on our next move,"
said Pakdi Chanthajiad, one of the group's leaders.
Rajani Dhongchai, principal of the Children's Village School in
Kanchanaburi, will today begin teaching 23 village children in a makeshift
hut outside Government House.
The school, made from bamboo and leaves, is similar to one erected at
Mae Moon Man Yuen I, a temporary village on the banks of the Moon river.
It will have white boards and chairs, but there are no funds yet to
provide lunch, books or toys.
"The unfair development policy has hurt these children. In a way,
it is destroying our nation since the children are our future. I can't let
them sit idly by and do nothing," she said
Affected
areas set to host public forums
Protest leaders reject government plan
Mongkol Bangprapa, Bangkok
Post, Aug 9, 2000
A government committee to assist the poor
has agreed in principle to hold public forums in areas where 16 problems
have occurred.
|
| Pak Moon protesters perform a ceremony calling
down curses on Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai and key Democrat Party
members at Government House yesterday, after abandoning their
hunger strike. _ APICHIT JINAKUL |
Alongkorn Polabutr, in his capacity as adviser to the panel, said
public forums would be held in provinces in which the problems originated
so that all concerned parties could be informed of all the facts and
causes of the problems.
The government made the proposal after a public forum on the 16
problems, earlier scheduled for Monday, was cancelled indefinitely due to
a row over the venue.
The government insisted the forum be held at the state-run Channel 11
television station, while the Assembly of the Poor, which leads the
protest by villagers, wanted it to be held elsewhere. The assembly claimed
Channel 11 was unacceptable because it was biased and the planned format
would impose a severe time limit on issues to be discussed. Mr Alongkorn
said Amnuay Patisae, the PM's deputy secretary-general, would discuss the
venues of the forums with a neutral committee tasked with finding
solutions to the protesters' problems. The neutral committee, appointed by
the government, is headed by academic Banthorn On-dam.
"Half of the 16 problems took place in Ubon Ratchathani. The rest
originated in Chaiyaphum, Surin, Roi Et and Si Sa Ket," Mr Alongkorn
said.
Mr Alongkorn said his committee had no objection with the proposal that
senator Chirmsak Pinthong be the moderator.
He said the government tried its best to tackle the problems of the
poor and there might be some misunderstanding on the part of protesters
about the government's efforts to solve their problems.
But protest leaders have rejected the latest government proposal. Pakdi
Chanthajiad, an assembly member, said it would make matters worse.
He said the assembly was afraid local officials would mobilise
counter-protests at forum venues.
Citing an example, he said the Electricity Generating Authority of
Thailand and some local leaders launched a campaign to attack the
protesters.
Meanwhile, the PollWatch Foundation and Thammasat University have
agreed to organise a public forum for the two sides.
Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, PollWatch secretary-general, said he informed
the premier's deputy secretary-general of this yesterday.
Thammasat University's small conference hall would be the venue for the
event scheduled for Thursday at 11am-2pm.
Clapping would be allowed while jeering would be prohibited. The media
will be invited to participate and broadcast the event.
The government would be asked to televise the forum live on Channel 11.
Chaiphan Praphasawat, an assembly adviser, said the assembly and
protesters would participate. "Now it's up to the government."
Assembly
slammed for opposing bridge
Bangkok Post, Aug 9, 2000
A group of local leaders, teachers and
students from three districts yesterday protested against the Assembly of
the Poor over its opposition to a 180-million-baht bridge project across
the Moon river.
Some 2,000 people from Khong Chiam, Phibun Mangsahan and Sirindhorn
districts gathered in front of the provincial hall to condemn the
assembly's move which forced a halt to the bridge construction.
The assembly claimed the bridge structure being built in the Moon's
tributaries would further obstruct fish migrations from the Mekong river.
The protesters yesterday lodged a petition with Rungrit Makarapong, the
provincial governor, demanding that the bridge construction resume.
They said the bridge would facilitate travelling in the lower and upper
parts of the Moon river basin.
They dispersed after the governor promised to forward their demand to
the Transport Ministry, which owns the bridge project.
Leaflet
producer challenges police
Bangkok Post, Aug 9, 2000
The producer of leaflets which the
Special Branch chief implied were the work of communists challenged police
to arrest him yesterday.
Pol Lt-Gen Yothin Matthayomnan said the leaflets bearing a hammer and
sickle smacked of communism and linked them to the Pak Moon protest.
"Pol Lt-Gen Yothin made a fool of himself. He is 30 years out of
step," said Nonthaburi native Duang Phleerat, 63.
He said the picture of people holding a hammer and sickle is a
re-design of the Palang Dharma Party logo. Mr Duang is a political
activist and member of the Assembly of Farmers, a pro-monarchist group
which has set up a tent next to Government House.
Mr Duang said he was enraged by the use of force by police to quell
protests on July 17-18.
The producer of leaflets which the
Special Branch chief implied were the work of communists challenged police
to arrest him yesterday.
Pol Lt-Gen Yothin Matthayomnan said the leaflets bearing a hammer and
sickle smacked of communism and linked them to the Pak Moon protest.
"Pol Lt-Gen Yothin made a fool of himself. He is 30 years out of
step," said Nonthaburi native Duang Phleerat, 63.
He said the picture of people holding a hammer and sickle is a
re-design of the Palang Dharma Party logo. Mr Duang is a political
activist and member of the Assembly of Farmers, a pro-monarchist group
which has set up a tent next to Government House.
Mr Duang said he was enraged by the use of force by police to quell
protests on July 17-18.
|
