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BKK Post, March 3, 1998 GAS PIPELIN



March 3, 1998
GAS PIPELINE 

Sulak begins protest to halt project 
Opponents renew call for an impact study 

Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa yesterday began his solo protest in 
Kanchanaburi against the Yadana gas pipeline project.

Opponents of the project renewed calls for the government to halt 
construction of a section to avoid the foraging grounds of wild 
elephants and carry out a new environment impact assessment study.

Mr Sulak camped out at the construction site and vowed to stay there as 
long as the Yadana gas pipeline project was not scrapped.

According to a statement issued by Phipop Thongchai, a representative of 
a coalition of 88 organisations opposing the project, a new thorough EIA 
study must be conducted urgently.

This follows the panel's ruling that the Petroleum Authority of 
Thailand, the project owner, is not transparent in its implementation of 
the project.

It said the PTT's EIA study was incomplete and it needs to explore the 
impact of the project on the wildlife too.

The alliance said the pipeline route would do harm to the food and water 
resources of some 40-50 wild elephants in the forests, many of which are 
said to be suffering from food and water shortages.

In the statement, Mr Phipop decried the prime minister's decision, 
saying the government and the PTT have no concern for the well-being of 
animals and are more concerned about money.

The alliance also accused the PTT of lying to the public. It claimed the 
PTT would have to pay a small sum of interest in case of delay in the 
project, not a daily fine of 40 million baht.

It said a power plant which is being built in Ratchaburi to serve the 
project is several months behind schedule and PTT executives have asked 
Burma to delay the project. The plant is scheduled to start operations 
in July.

"The PTT told lies to confuse the public and to make them choose between 
money and the animals. This is a shame," the statement said.

The alliance said the premier showed no interest in their side of story 
after he failed to stop to talk with affected villagers and 
environmentalists during his inspection trip over the weekend in 
Kanchanaburi.

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has given the go-ahead to the pipeline 
project but vowed to correct any shortcomings after reviewing the 
conclusions of the panel he has set up to sort out the differences.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart admitted yesterday he 
signed the gas pipeline contract with Burma in 1993.

However, the interior minister said he had nothing to do with the route 
and laying of the pipeline which was agreed to by the Thai and Burmese 
energy authorities.

Commenting on Mr Sulak's protest, Maj Gen Sanan said: "It is good for 
him."

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