Venue for Pak Mool Dam hearing
agreed
The Nation, Aug 10, 2000
IN a breakthrough development brokered by a university
lecturer, the government and the Assembly of the Poor yesterday agreed on
the venue for a public hearing on the Pak Mool Dam controversy.
Yesterday's breakthrough came amid speculation there
would be no such event in Bangkok at all, as both sides had insisted on
their venues of choice.
Regardless of the progress in the Pak Mool dam issue,
political activist Chalad Vorachat yesterday vowed to fast to his death to
force the ouster of the government.
Thammasat University political science lecturer Somchai
Srisuthiyakorn, who is acting as a mediator, said the government had
yesterday agreed to his recommendation that the university's Small
Auditorium should be the venue for the public hearing.
However, the government proposed that the public hearing
should be held next Thursday (August 17), rather than tomorrow as had been
advised.
Somchai said Amnuay Patise, the prime minister's deputy
secretary-general, had explained that Cabinet members obliged to take part
in the event would not be available tomorrow as they were scheduled to
join fellow government ministers at an audience with HM the Queen to wish
her a happy birthday.
The date and venue had been approved by the Assembly of
the Poor, Somchai said.
He added that he would call a meeting of representatives
of both sides at 10am today at Baan Manangkasila to draw up a framework
for the public hearing. On Tuesday, Somchai handed the Cabinet a letter
presenting himself as the mediator. He said yesterday he had obtained
permission from the university's rector for the use of the Small
Auditorium.
The lecturer said there were no hidden motives behind
his efforts, adding that he merely wanted the hearing to take place so
that both sides would be able to present their information to the public.
"The forum is not for exchanging arguments or
causing the other side to lose face or get credit. It is for members of
the public to hear information from both sides and arrive at their own
judgement," Somchai said.
Government spokesman Akapol Sorasuchart told a press
conference yesterday that the government was well prepared for the public
hearing.
He said the event would be televised live on a state-run
channel between 11am and 4pm on August 17.
The spokesman added said that the government would go
ahead with its plan to hold similar events in Chaiyaphum, Si Sa Ket and
Ubon Ratchathani, the centre of the dam controversy.
Chaiyaphan Prapasawat, an adviser to the Assembly of the
Poor, said yesterday the group welcomed the choice of Thammasat University
as the venue for the public hearing. He also thanked the university for
allowing the use of its facilities.
The Nation |
