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BKK POST: January 22, 1998: GAS PIP



January 22, 1998
GAS PIPELINE

              Bulldozers getting
              closer to blockade

              Chakrit Ridmontri

              The confrontation between conservationists and gas pipeline
              construction workers remained tense yesterday as bulldozers
              were about to reach the groups' blockade set up to obstruct the
              pipeline laying.

              Bandit Kraiwichit, a member of the conservation group, said the
              construction workers have begun clearing bamboo clumps and
              shrubs at the pipeline's kilometre 28 section which is only a
              kilometre from the group's camp.

              The protesters laid across the ditch prepared for laying the
              pipeline and blocked the bulldozers which were uprooting trees,
              said Mr Bandit.

              "We have to stop the workers and bulldozers because there are
              plenty of bamboo and bananas which are food sources for
              elephants," he said, adding the action was taken in a peaceful
              manner.

              In Bangkok, a coalition of the conservation groups announced
              they would approach Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai tomorrow
              to ask him to look into the case immediately.

              They said they would also ask Interior Minister Sanan
              Kachornprasart to calm down pipeline supporters who have
              threatened to counter-protest against the groups in Kanchanaburi
              tomorrow, said Suwit Watnuu, deputy chairman of the
              Campaign for Popular Democracy.

              Mr Suwit said the premier had to act quickly before the
              confrontation becomes uncontrollable.

              Songkiert Tansamrit, director of PTT's public relation
              department, said the PTT was very concerned about the
              environmental impact resulting from the pipeline laying.

              He said only 2,900 trees with circumferences larger than 80
              centimetres would be cut to make way for the pipeline section
              that passes through lush forests totalling 50 kilometres.

              Moreover, up to 3,600 smaller trees have been relocated to be
              replanted.

              He denied that wild animals were found along the construction
              site in the forest as claimed by conservation groups. If the area is
              a habitat of the beasts, the pipeline laying would not irritate the
              animals as it would take only three to four months, he said.

              The confrontation between the PTT and conservation groups
              began when the project was made public two years ago. The
              PTT signed a gas deal contract with the gas seller consortium
              comprising oil firm Unocal of USA, Total of France, PTTEP Ltd
              which is an affiliate of the PTT and the Myanmar Oil and Gas
              Enterprise.

              The consortium won concessions from the Burmese government
              to drill gas from the Yadana and Yetagun fields in the Andaman
              Sea. The 30-year contract will begin on July 1 which is the gas
              delivery date.

              The PTT has to finish its 260km pipeline section from the border
              of Thailand and Malaysia at I-tong village to a gas power plant in
              Ratchaburi within the gas delivery date. Failure to do so will
              cause the enterprise to be liable to a daily fine of 40 million baht.

              But legal experts of the groups argued that the PTT could not
              pay the fine if the project is halted because of an order from the
              prime minister. 




                                     




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Last Modified: Thu, Jan 22, 1998