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thailand/pipeline
DATE=2/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227309
TITLE=THAILAND/PIPELINE
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
INTRO: THAILAND'S PRIME MINISTER IS TO MAKE A DECISION SOON ON
WHETHER TO CONTINUE WITH A CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT THAT WOULD PIPE
GAS FROM BURMA. THE PROJECT HAS AROUSED ENVIRONMENTAL AND
POLITICAL CONCERNS. AS VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM
BANGKOK, A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE PROJECT HAS
REFUSED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
TEXT: A SPECIAL PANEL SET UP BY PRIME MINISTER CHUAN LEEKPAI TO
INVESTIGATE CONCERNS ABOUT THE YADANA PIPELINE PROJECT HAS
SHARPLY CRITICIZED THE GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING OF THE MATTER, BUT
HAS REFUSED TO TAKE A STAND ON IT.
IN ITS FINAL REPORT, THE COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY FORMER PRIME
MINISTER ANAND PANYARACHUN, MADE NO RECOMMENDATION ON WHETHER THE
PROJECT SHOULD BE CANCELLED OR THE ROUTE SHOULD BE ALTERED,
LEAVING THE FINAL DECISION SQUARELY ON PRIME MINISTER CHUAN.
THE YADANA PIPELINE IS TO CARRY NATURAL GAS FROM AN OFFSHORE
FIELD IN BURMA TO A POWER GENERATING PLANT IN THAILAND. THE
PROJECT, APPROVED FIVE YEARS AGO, HAS AROUSED THE ANGER OF HUMAN
RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, WHO PROTEST THAT IT WILL PRODUCE REVENUE FOR
BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT, AND CONSERVATIONISTS, WHO FEAR ITS
EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
OPPONENTS OF THE PROJECT HAVE BEEN WAGING A SIT-IN PROTEST IN THE
PIPELINE'S PATH IN THAILAND'S KANCHANBURI PROVINCE.
THE ANAND COMMITTEE REPORT IS SHARPLY CRITICAL OF THE
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS SURROUNDING THE PROJECT. IT SAYS THE
PROJECT "LACKS TRANSPARENCY" AND THAT THE PETROLEUM AUTHORITY OF
THAILAND, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROJECT, HAD FAILED TO
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PUBLIC CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF VILLAGERS
DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE PIPELINE.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO CRITICIZES THE HANDLING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ASSESSMENT ON THE PROJECT, SAYING IT WAS INCOMPLETE AND
LACKED PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
THE COMMITTEE SAYS IT WILL RECOMMEND THAT A NEW SUBCOMMITTEE BE
SET UP TO MONITOR THE PROJECT'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, AND IT WILL
BE UP TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND A HALT TO CONSTRUCTION IF
IT IS FELT THERE WILL BE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS.
PIPELINE OPPONENTS SAY THEY ARE MYSTIFIED BY THE COMMITTEE'S
NON-COMMITTAL STANCE AND WANT A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF
THE YADANA PIPELINE PROJECT. BUT THEY ADD THEY WILL CALL OFF
THEIR PROTEST ONCE MR. CHUAN MAKES HIS DECISION. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/GC/FC/WFR
26-Feb-98 5:30 AM EST (1030 UTC)