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BKK POST: January 18, 1998:GAS PIPE



January 18, 1998
GAS PIPELINE PROJECT / CONFRONTATION IN
                                  FOREST

              Protesters say
              leader 'faces
              kidnap threat'

              PTT staff abandon tree-cutting duties

              Chakrit Ridmontri
              Thom Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi

              The Kanchanaburi Conservation Group claimed yesterday that
              its core leader, who is preventing the cutting of trees on part of
              the gas pipeline route, is facing the threat of being kidnapped.

              Environmentalists said quarrels between the group and the
              Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) began a few days ago
              when group members persuaded PTT employees, who live in the
              area, not to cut large trees on Khao Ta Kua mountain.

              As a result PTT's officials leading the tree-cutting team were
              angry, said Ratchanee Dhongchai, a group leader.

              "The employees said they were also unhappy to cut trees in their
              hometown. So they agreed to stop," she said.

              Mrs Ratchanee said supporters of the project are plotting to
              kidnap leader Phinant Chotirosseranee who is camping on the
              disputed area with a few others. 

              "According to our sources, Mrs Phinant is the target because she
              has been outstanding in her protests against the project. If she
              disappears the supporters believe resistance will die down," she
              said.

              The disputed area is at pipeline marker kilometre 22, on Khao
              Ta Kua peak, which is covered with big trees. 

              Trees measuring more than 80 centimetres in diameter have been
              marked for cutting by the Forestry Department. Others have
              already been felled.

              An army section sent to the disputed area has camped about one
              hundred metres from the group's blockade.

              PTT's officials were not available for comment about the alleged
              kidnap threat yesterday.

              The threat of confrontation began to intensify as the PTT work
              on the 260km pipeline approached lush forest in Kanchanaburi's
              Thom Pha Phum district.

              The consortium working on the gas pipeline project includes
              America's Unocal, Total of France, Myanmar Oil and Gas
              Enterprise, and PTTEP Ltd, an affiliate of the PTT.

              The PTT says the completion date is set for July 1. On that day
              the PTT must finish the Thai section of the pipeline or face a daily
              fine of 40 million baht.

              However, legal experts with the groups say the contract allows
              the PTT to delay completion if the government orders a
              suspension of the project. 

              The group wants the project halted to allow the pipeline to be
              rerouted away from forests.