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dam-l LS: Victory at Rasi Salai - Sluice gates to open for two years
On July 6, 2000, Thailand's Science Ministry agreed to open all seven
sluice gates of Rasi Salai dam to let the river run free for two years for
environmental recovery. In the meantime, the Department of Energy
Development and Promotion will spend the next two years clearing all the
compensation cases, undertaking an environmental impact assessment, and
investigating solutions to the salination problem. In response, the
villagers agreed to move out of their protest site on the dam crest. This
is a significant victory for the villagers at Rasi Salai who have been
fighting for seven years for justice.
Unfortunately, the Thai government has not agreed to open the gates at Pak
Mun despite the committee's recommendation that the gates should be open
for 4 months during the rainy season to allow fish migration. The villagers
have gone to Bangkok to protest and have been met with a violent response
from the government and police. More than 200 people have been arrested. A
full update on Pak Mun will be sent out later today.
Aviva Imhof
IRN
Rasi Salai dam: Sluice gates to open for two year
Protest applaud Artihit's decision
Anchalee Kongrut
Bangkok Post
July 7, 2000
The Science Ministry will open all seven sluice gates of Rasi Salai dam to
let the river run free for two years for environmental recovery.
"The opening of the gates will restore the land to its natural condition,"
said Arthit Ourairat, the science minister.
Mr Arthit conceded that the dam project was a source of serious conflicts
over land compensation, its impact on the natives and its cost.
The ministry's Department of Energy Development and Promotion would spend
the next two years clearing all compensation cases.
Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, Khon Kaen University and
Department of Land Development would be asked to carry out an environment
impact assessment study.
Paijit Silarak, an adviser to the Assembly of the Poor who was himself
affected by the dam project, praised Mr Arthit's decision as "constructive"
and believes it would lead to serious talks and a concrete solution to the
problem.
He also lauded Mr Arthit for being aware of the soil salinity problems
resulting from dam projects built on northeastern soil which was known to
hold a high level of salt deposits.
Bantorn On-dam, a scholar and chair of the committee set up by Interior
Minister Banyat Bantadtan to solve Pak Moon and other dam-related problems
raised by the assembly, said he admired Mr Arthit for the decision.
Mr Bantorn's panel has since the middle of last month resolved that all Pak
Moon dam spillways be opened for four months a year to let fish migrate.
The panel had handed the resolution to the Interior Ministry since the
middle of last month but never received any official response from the
ministry on the matter.
"Hearing Mr Arthit's order, I can't help wishing Mr Banyat took the same
action," he commented.
The committee did not expect the government to follow its suggestions,
judging from Mr Banyat's response to its resolution. "Our duty is over. Now
the matter rests with the government," he said.
***********************************
Minister orders opening of Rasi Salai dam gates
SCIENCE Minister Arthit Urirat yesterday ordered the Rasi Salai Dam's water
gates to be opened for two years.
Arthit gave the order to the Department of Energy Development and Promotion
(DEDP), and told the department to re-survey the land held by villagers
around the reservoir after the water is released.
He said the opening of the gates should solve the conflict between
villagers and the DEDP, and reduce the saline levels in nearby land.
Completed in 1993, the Rasi Salai Dam was built across the Mool River in
Sri Sa Ket province for irrigation purposes.
Arthit said the DEDP did not survey the land prior to the dam's
construction, so it does not know where all of the villagers' effected land
is exactly located, or how the land was used previously.
The DEDP paid Bt57 million to compensate 775 villagers, but more than
17,000 villagers are seeking additional compensation for land that was
flooded.
The dam also has created a soil salinity problem.
A report by the Land Development Department said 21 per cent of the area
irrigated by the dam faces a high risk of salinity problems, while another
21 per cent faces a medium risk.
However, many villagers have already reported salinity problems with their
land.
Hundreds of villagers have protested at the dam since May, demanding that
the gates be opened.
They say their land is full of salt, rendering it incapable of producing
healthy crops.
Meanwhile, a neutral committee established to consider demands by the
Assembly of the Poor, including those concerning the Rasi Salai and Pak
Mool dams, yesterday submitted its suggestions to Interior Minister Banyat
Bantadtan. The committee will meet Banyat today to discuss them.
Assembly of the Poor (ASP), a grass-roots rights group, has demanded
government action on 16 dam and forestry mega-development projects that it
says have hurt local residents.
The government established the neutral committee last month to review the
projects. The committee's tenure expired yesterday, committee head Banthorn
Ondum said.
The committee called for immediate action on urgent cases such as the Pak
Mool and Rasi Salai dams, Banthorn said.
It said the Pak Mool Dam's gates should be opened during the rainy season,
from May to August, to let fish swim upstream and spawn.
The committee also advised the government to open the Rasi Salai Dam to
curb its impact on the environment and resolve the conflict with area
residents.
The committee suggested the government study further the impact the dams
have had on the environment and nearby residents while suspending
construction on proposed dam projects, he said.
The committee also proposed that relevant laws be updated and amended
during a time of changing environmental conditions.
As for forestry projects, Banthorn said the verification of land ownership
would solve the problem.
He said the previous government's Cabinet had approved this measure and a
committee was set up to implement it, but the committee did not carry out
its mission for unknown reasons.
Banthorn said the solutions proposed require determination and sincerity
from the government, which he said should issue Cabinet resolutions to
prove its sincerity.
"There must be concrete solutions and the Interior Ministry should act as a
mediator between ASP and the government," he said.
BY PENNAPA HONGTHONG
The Nation, July 7, 2000
Protesters moving out of dam site
SRI SA KET - Villagers demonstrating against the Rasi Salai dam began
moving away from their protest site at the dam yesterday, saying they were
satisfied with Science Minister Arthit Urirat's promise to have the dam's
water gates opened and the villagers' claims for compensation investigated.
On Thursday, the minister said he would order the Department of Energy
Development and Promotion (DEDP) to open the water gates. He said that
would be the best way to reduce the salinity level of the water and resolve
the conflict between the DEDP and villagers. Paijit Silarak, leader of the
protesters, said the villagers felt the minister's proposal showed he
understood their problems.
The move appeared to mark the end of the villagers' two-year campaign for
compensation for the damage caused by the project. The minister said after
the water is released from the dam, the DEDP will conduct a survey to
determine which villagers had been affected by flooding. But Paijit said if
the DEDP does not agree with Arthit, the villagers will renew their protest.
The Nation July 9, 2000