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February 10, 1998. GAS PIPELINE
- Subject: February 10, 1998. GAS PIPELINE
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 01:36:00
February 10, 1998. GAS PIPELINE
Protests have
come too late, says
Chuan
Government bound by deal with Burma
Suebpong Unnarat and Wasant Techawongtham
Attempts to halt the Thai-Burmese gas pipeline have come too
late, the prime minister said yesterday. The government can do
nothing but abide by contracts signed with Burma.
Chuan Leekpai's statement came the same day that Anand
Panyarachun agreed to chair a "public information" committee to
sort out differences on the details of the project, according to
Pibhop Dhongchai, a leading project opponent.
Mr Chuan said the project undertaken by the Petroleum
Authority of Thailand must continue to completion in the interests
of the nation.
"PTT has to follow agreements made with its partners," he said.
"The government cannot order the project to stop. We
considered things were over the moment the contracts were
signed."
Mr Pibhop, secretary-general of Campaign for Popular
Democracy, expressed dismay at Mr Chuan's statement,
accusing him of undermining attempts to settle the long-running
dispute.
"Mr Chuan's statement will cause some problems. Our groups
will discuss whether we can accept it," Mr Pibhop said. He
accused Mr Chuan of having undermined similar negotiations
several times in the past, including the recent talks among legal
experts from the opposition, PTT and the government to
consider conflicting claims over possible penalty if the project
was delayed.
Mr Pibhop said Mr Chuan "whispered to PTT to proceed with
the construction even while the talks were in session".
Representatives of PTT and project opponents met yesterday to
try to agree on conditions of the public information process
aimed at revealing relevant information to the public.
Both sides have agreed on the candidates to sit on the
committee. Besides Mr Anant, the former prime minister,
members will include Ammar Siamwalla and Khunying Suthawan
Sathierathai, economists, Chiraphol Sinthunawa, an
environmentalist, Kaewsan Athiphoti, a legal expert, and Wisanu
Waranyu.
Dr Prawase Wasi, the reform advocate, Sophon Suphaphong,
president of Bangchak Refinery, and Senator Paiboon
Wattanasiritham will serve as advisers.
The two sides have also agreed to a halt in the pipeline laying for
10 days at Huay Khayeng forest between pipeline markers
18-28 where a group of opponents has camped out to block
construction.
But at press time, they were still discussing a work stoppage at
another location at Dan Makham Tia, where disputes between
local people and PTT remain unresolved, Mr Pibhop said.
"I wish that Mr Chuan would not close the door on the process
to consider the damage from the project," he said. "I wish he
would sincerely listen to the people through a public hearing, not
through a public threatening tactic."
Mr Chuan, meanwhile, promised he would ensure that PTT
reafforest areas where trees would be cut to make way for
construction.
He said PTT had been the best state agency in carrying out the
reafforestation programme to mark His Majesty the King's
golden jubilee and it should be a guarantee that Kanchanaburi
people would regain fertile forest.
The government has tried several times to help settle the conflict
between the state firm and conservation groups through peaceful
negotiations but failed, he said.
Mr Chuan said he has not yet approved the list of members of
the public information panel because he has not seen it yet.