Concern Over Pipe Line Rally

[nyeinchan@xxxxxxxxxxx]

The Nation (July 3rd)
Concern over pipeline rally 



CONSERVATIONISTS yesterday accused Kanchanaburi Governor Kwanchai 
Wasawong of planning to mobilise local administrators to prevent 
villagers from protesting against the Yadana gas pipeline. 

Environmental groups and local people have voiced concern about the 
environmental impact of the pipeline, which will pass through lush green 
forests from Kanchanaburi to the power plant in Ratchaburi. 

Villagers of Tambon Jorakhae Phuank, in Kanchanaburi's Dan Makham Tia 
district, have planned a rally to express their opposition to the laying 
of the gas pipeline, which would pass through their village, student 
leader Chanakarn Pandermwong said. 

Chanakarn claimed that the governor plans to rally local officials to 
disperse the protest tomorrow in a bid to project an image of full local 
support for the pipeline project. She called on the prime minister and 
the Interior minister to force the governor to drop his plan as it would 
disrupt a public gathering to express the people's legitimate opinion. 

Seri Ratanaseri, Dan Makham Tia district chief, said he has met 
protesting families in order to forge a better understanding of the 
villagers' complaints about the gas pipeline. ''I will try to solve the 
villagers' complaints regarding construction work related to the gas 
pipeline," he said, adding that protesters were mostly concerned about 
the inconvenience that would be caused by the construction. 


"THERE WILL BE NO REAL DEMOCRACY IF WE CAN'T GURANTEE THE RIGHTS OF THE 
MINORITY ETHNIC PEOPLE.  ONLY UNDERSTANDING THEIR SUFFERING AND HELPING 
THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL ASSIST PREVENTING FROM THE 
DISINTEGRATION AND THE SESESSION."  "WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THEIR 
STRENGTH, WE CAN'T TOPPLE THE SLORC AND BURMA WILL NEVER BE IN PEACE."


_______________________________________________________
Get Private Web-Based Email Free http://www.hotmail.com