Pak Moon villagers turn up heat on PM :
Surayud urged to open dam gates as promised
ANCHALEE KONGRUT Bangkok Post. 5 May 2007.
The Assembly of the Poor yesterday threatened to hold a massive gathering if Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont fails to tackle their problems and come through with his promise to open the sluice gates of the Pak Moon dam. Gen Surayud visited villagers affected by Pak Moon dam in Ubon Ratchathani three weeks ago, and promised that the sluice gates would be opened for four months to allow fish to swim from the Mekong river to spawn in the Moon river.
The Thaksin cabinet in 2003 ordered the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), the dam operator, to open the dam's eight gates from May to August each year as requested by Pak Moon villagers.
However, villagers say Egat has failed to open the sluice gates despite the migratory season already beginning.
Eleven Pak Moon villagers yesterday staged a protest outside Government House and the Energy Ministry, calling on Gen Surayud and Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand to order Egat to follow the cabinet resolution on the dam opening.
''We will come back if the promise is not fulfilled,'' said Somkiart Ponepai, a 54-year-old fisherman living near the dam.
Mr Somkiart said the closure of the dam gates threatened the livelihoods of fishermen, with fish stocks dropping sharply because fish were no longer able swim to the Moon river and spawn.
In a petition submitted to Gen Surayud, villagers lashed out at the government for being too slow.
''It has been three weeks since Gen Surayud promised to fix the villagers' problems, but everything is at a stand-still,'' the petition said.
''We come here today to warn the prime minister that his government could face a massive demonstration if it fails to act more quickly.''
The group demanded the premier set meeting dates between concerned agencies and villagers to solve the problems and order Egat to open dam immediately.
The Assembly of the Poor is a network of people affected by state policies and development projects such as dam construction, urban development and land management.
Meanwhile, another group of villagers, reportedly backed by Egat, said the opening of the sluice gates would affect their fish basket cultivation as strong water flows from the opening would destroy their fish harvest. They have called for the dam to remain closed throughout the year. |
