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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)