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dam-l LS: Dam protesters will stay put
The Nation, June 19, 2000
Dam protesters will stay put
PROTESTERS at the Pak Mool Dam will not abandon the site but will
facilitate the transportation of equipment the Electricity Generating
Authority of Thailand (Egat) needs for power-plant maintenance, a protest
leader said yesterday.
The Assembly of the Poor and protesters have discussed the recent request
made by new Ubon Ratchathani Governor Rungrit Makarapong and Egat
representatives, Somparn Khuendee said.
Rungrit and Egat have asked protesters to move away from their protest site
to allow Egat to move in machines and equipment necessary for the upkeep of
the Pak Mool power plant.
Protesters will allow Egat's maintenance staff to enter the power plant and
work. The staff's safety will be guaranteed, she said.
They agree to remove the shelters and belongings obstructing the
transportation operation. However, they will not give up the site until the
authority agrees to open the dam's eight sluices for four months, as the
protesters have demanded, Somparn said.
Protesters, with support from the Assembly of the Poor, have occupied the
power plant since May 15. They are camping in Mae Mool Man Yuen 7 village
in front of the plant. Somparn said that if Egat opened the eight sluice,
protesters would agree to move the rally to Mae Mool Man Yuen 1 village.
The power plant's four generators have been idle during this period, along
with the dam's five sluices, which the villagers cannot open themselves.
Villagers occupying certain areas along both sides of the Mool River are
now suffering from flooding due to large volumes of water accumulating as a
result of the closed gates, reports said.
Rungrit has set up a neutral committee of people acceptable to both sides
to examine the facts. The committee will meet for the first time on Wednesday.
Meanwhile a 15-year-old girl drowned at Rasi Salai Dam on Saturday while
swimming in the dam's reservoir with friends, a protest leader said.
Paijit Silarak, a key member of the Assembly of the Poor supporting a
villagers' protest at Rasi Salai Dam, said Pairin Booranmool had recently
joined the rally after her mother had left the protest site and gone home
to tend their paddy field.