BKK Post, April 23, 1998.Pipeline b

[burma@xxxxxxxxxx]

April 23, 1998.Pipeline backers accused of encroaching on forest land
                       Fruit trees linked to ownership attempt
                      Chakrit Ridmontri

Supporters of the Thai-Burmese gas pipeline project have encroached on 
forest land along the pipeline route, a conservationist alleged.

Large tracks of forest land in Kanchanaburi's Thong Pha Phum district 
have been cleared and planted with fruit trees in an apparent attempt to 
stake an ownership claim, said Narong Changkramol, information officer 
at Sueb Nakhasatien Foundation.

The encroachment intensified last month after conservation groups which 
staged a sit-in protest against the pipeline project in Kuay Khayeng 
forest pulled out of their jungle camp. Police arrested the last of the 
protesters led by Sulak Sivaraksa.

"We know that some encroachers are staunch supporters of the project, 
such as a provincial councillor and a high-ranking police officer," Mr 
Narong charged. He declined to name names.

Mr Narong went to observe pipeline construction early in the week and 
found that an estimated 5,000 rai of forest land along pipeline 
kilometres 25 to 28 were occupied.

"It's so sad that the encroachers claim a huge salty hot spring in Kuay 
Khayeng reserved forest near the pipeline to be their asset because it 
is the last remaining salt lick for wild elephants."

He said some of the encroachers intended to build tourist resorts there 
and take over the hot spring for their own use.

Ruethai Kongkuan, a farmer in Tambon Huay Khayeng, said all encroachers 
are outsiders, saying the pipeline construction helped intensify 
encroachment by providing access to deep forest.

The encroachers, he said, expected the Forestry Department to issue them 
with land reform papers.

"In the past the forest around the salt licks was dense because local 
villagers dared not expand their farmland for fear that the elephants 
would destroy their crops and they also believe that ghosts reside 
here," said Mr Ruethai.

Forestry department chief Plodprasop Suraswadi, meanwhile, ordered 
Kanchanaburi forestry chief Prachak Thaiklang to submit to him a report 
about the allegation and an action plan to suppress the encroachment.

"I will inspect the area in question in the next two weeks," said Mr 
Plodprasop. "Let me warn that no land reform paper will be issued for 
anyone there because it is not possible that they had lived there before 
the pipeline."

The PTT began building its 260-km gas pipeline last year after signing a 
contract to purchase gas from a consortium led by Total of France, 
Unocal of USA, a Burma state enterprise and an affiliate of PTT.

The pipeline connects with the Burma section at the border in Thong Pha 
Phum district and ends at a gas power plant in Ratchaburi.

Conservation groups opposed the project, charging that the PTT failed to 
properly conduct an environmental impact assessment study (EIA). The 
pipeline runs through at least six kilometers of lush forest in Thong 
Pha Phum and poses a threat to wild animals.

Human rights activists also accused the Petroleum Authority of Thailand 
of supporting the genocide of Burmese ethnic minorities along the 
pipeline route in Burma.

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