BKK POST: January 31, 1998: ENVIRON

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

BKK POST: January 31, 1998: ENVIRONMENT

              Pipeline foes want
              Direk investigated

              Governor accused of misusing state
              fund

              Student activists have called for an investigation into whether the
              governor of Kanchanaburi used state money to stage last week's
              rally in support of the Thai-Burmese gas pipeline.

              In a letter to Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, the
              Students Federation of Thailand has questioned the role of Direk
              Uthaipol, accusing him of spending provincial funds to pay
              supporters of the project.

              The association of kamnan and village chiefs led a demonstration
              of some 30,000 people at the provincial hall last week.

              A stage show was performed to keep the supporters
              entertained.

              Chanakarn Phandermwong, deputy secretary of SFT, said the
              governor failed to maintain his neutrality and paid between 70
              and 140 baht to each villager to take part.

              "We want the interior minister to order an investigation into the
              governor's conduct. Disciplinary action should be taken against
              him if he is found guilty," the student leader said.

              She said the stage show outside the government office in which
              performers wore few clothes was inappropriate and the
              governor should not have condoned it.

              "Such a show was inappropriate. The governor failed to prevent
              it. He even took to the floor to address the crowd," she said.

              Manoj Wichaikul, the interior minister's aide, urged the student
              leaders to supply evidence to support the allegations.

              He said he would pass the petition to Maj-Gen Sanan, but the
              interior minister would use his own judgment on whether or not
              to read it and take further action.

              Mr Manoj said he personally did not buy the allegations against
              the governor.




                                     




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