Forty
villagers on hunger strike
Hundreds turn up to show moral support
Ampa Santimetanidol and Anchalee Kongrut
Bangkok Post, Jul 28, 2000
Hundreds of workers last night joined the
demonstration in front of Government House as 40 protesters began a hunger
strike.
The new arrivals, led by the Labour Congress of Thailand, included 300
laid-off employees of Thai Durable Textile Co in Samut Prakan. They
occupied Phitsanulok road, forcing its closure to traffic.
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Forty Pak Moon dam protesters began a hunger
strike at Government House yesterday, showing their discontent
with the cabinet's response to their demands. - Sarot
Meksophawannakul |
A labour leader said their presence was intended to press the
government to accept all the villagers' demands.
The hunger strikers-18 men and 22 women-received support from Chalard
Vorachat, who has gone on protest fasts before and promised to join them
on his birthday on Monday. The hunger strikers, who dressed all in white,
said in a statement that they wanted to convey their thoughts to the
government and the middle-class.
Tang Paknok, from Chaiyaphum, said the hunger strike was the only way
left to prove that they were not paid to join the protest.
"We resort to fasting to show we are really suffering, or else we
would not be here in the first place," she said.
Mr Chalard said he would fast for eight days if the prime minister
remains indifferent.
He gave advice to the hunger strikers on how to sustain their fast.
"Drink clean water and honey four times a day. Make sure there is no
glucose in the water or you will get a stomach upset.
"You may feel uncomfortable for the first three days, but remain
calm and patient. Then everything will be fine."Social critic Sulak
Sivaraksa visited the hunger strikers but said he disagreed with their
action.
He did not think the prime minister would care if 10 or 20 poor people
died. Had Sanan Kachornprasart still been in the government, Mr Sulak
said, the protesters' problems would be taken care of much better because
the former minister had courage and a better understanding of the poor
than the prime minister.
He was also suspicious of the absence of PM's Office Minister Savit
Bhodivihok, who is in charge of the Electricity Generating Authority of
Thailand, throughout the protest by Pak Moon protesters.
Alongkorn Polabut, personal secretary to the prime minister, said the
government had tried its best to solve the protesters' problems. It had
bowed to most demands but the Assembly of the Poor wanted all 16 demands
accepted.
The government also agreed to hold a public forum to explain why it
could not accept all the protesters' demands, he added
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