ID :
141009
Mon, 09/06/2010 - 22:13
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http://m.oananews.org//node/141009
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Map Ta Phut residents urge rights commission to scrutinise government's list of harmful activities
BANGKOK, Sept 6 - Residents of Thailand's Map Ta Phut industrial estate on Monday filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), asking it to examine the government's announcement of 11 of 18 categories of harmful activities, while threatening to mount a mass protest at the country's largest industrial estate at the end of this month.
Twenty residents living in the Map Ta Phut area led by Eastern People’s Network coordinator Suthi Atchasai submitted their complaint letter to the NHRC seeking its response to scrutinise the legality of the announcement on categories of projects which were deemed harmful to the environment under Article 67.
Mr Suthi said the four-party panel headed by ex-prime minister Anand Panyarachun earlier proposed 18 categories of harmful industries and the government resolved to accept the resolution but it instead reduced the number of harmful activities to 11, an action which they accused was taken without consideration of rightness and appropriateness but only to help many suspended projects to resume operations.
"The government's announcement does not intend to protect the public interest. I therefore handed in the letter asking the NHRC to review it and propose advise the government to review its decision." said Mr Suthi.
Mr Anand's panel earlier advised the government through the National Environment Committee (NEB) that 18 categories of projects were deemed harmful to the environment under Article 67.
The environmental agency narrowed down the number to 11 and the Cabinet last week approved its list. Such projects include the expansion of the petrochemical industry, airport runways, all kinds of mining, dams and power plants.
Mr Suthi added his group also asked the NHRC to follow up with problem-solving for people affected by the Map Ta Phut projects as the government earlier received comments and recommendations from many organisations.
Mr Suthi said he planned to meet Mr Anand Monday evening to ask for what he has promised.
On September 10, there will be a gathering of environmental networks nationwide before they submit the group's condition to the government.
The civil sector will gather at Map Ta Phut industrial estate at the end of this month if the government does not respond to its demands, according to Mr Suthi.
NHRC secretary-general Dr Chuchai Supawong said as he received the letter that the commission will consider the matter as an urgent agenda and will study it before giving any advice to the government.
The Central Administrative Court on September 29 last year ordered 76 industrial projects at Map Ta Phut industrial estate, about 180km southeast of Bangkok, to temporarily halt operating for their failure to pass the environmental and health impact assessments as required by Article 67 of Thailand's Constitution.
The Central Administrative Court last week allowed 74 of the 76 suspended projects to resume operations. Two other projects accused of harmful activities to the environment remain suspended --an ethylene plant operated by TOC Glycol Co, a unit of PTT Chemical Plc and a vinyl chloride monomer project owned by Thai Plastic & Chemical Plc.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday urged the civil sector not to stage a mass protest at the end of September, saying they can still talk with the government.He said the concerned agencies will create better understanding on the case among the public.
"The government is ready to talk and listen. If the government is not sincere in solving the Map Ta Phut problem, why it has increased more restrictive conditions? The government is concerned with fact and standard practices and is confident that it has answer in every question," said the prime minister.
"Initially, the private sector responded positively to the announcement of 11 categories of harmful projects as it became clearer. The announcement is now not the main problem. What we have to do is to lay out system which can maintain quality of life of local people and emergency service system, as well as to speed up implementation of some needed projects such as hospitals and garbage disposal, according to Mr Abhisit. (MCOT online news)
Twenty residents living in the Map Ta Phut area led by Eastern People’s Network coordinator Suthi Atchasai submitted their complaint letter to the NHRC seeking its response to scrutinise the legality of the announcement on categories of projects which were deemed harmful to the environment under Article 67.
Mr Suthi said the four-party panel headed by ex-prime minister Anand Panyarachun earlier proposed 18 categories of harmful industries and the government resolved to accept the resolution but it instead reduced the number of harmful activities to 11, an action which they accused was taken without consideration of rightness and appropriateness but only to help many suspended projects to resume operations.
"The government's announcement does not intend to protect the public interest. I therefore handed in the letter asking the NHRC to review it and propose advise the government to review its decision." said Mr Suthi.
Mr Anand's panel earlier advised the government through the National Environment Committee (NEB) that 18 categories of projects were deemed harmful to the environment under Article 67.
The environmental agency narrowed down the number to 11 and the Cabinet last week approved its list. Such projects include the expansion of the petrochemical industry, airport runways, all kinds of mining, dams and power plants.
Mr Suthi added his group also asked the NHRC to follow up with problem-solving for people affected by the Map Ta Phut projects as the government earlier received comments and recommendations from many organisations.
Mr Suthi said he planned to meet Mr Anand Monday evening to ask for what he has promised.
On September 10, there will be a gathering of environmental networks nationwide before they submit the group's condition to the government.
The civil sector will gather at Map Ta Phut industrial estate at the end of this month if the government does not respond to its demands, according to Mr Suthi.
NHRC secretary-general Dr Chuchai Supawong said as he received the letter that the commission will consider the matter as an urgent agenda and will study it before giving any advice to the government.
The Central Administrative Court on September 29 last year ordered 76 industrial projects at Map Ta Phut industrial estate, about 180km southeast of Bangkok, to temporarily halt operating for their failure to pass the environmental and health impact assessments as required by Article 67 of Thailand's Constitution.
The Central Administrative Court last week allowed 74 of the 76 suspended projects to resume operations. Two other projects accused of harmful activities to the environment remain suspended --an ethylene plant operated by TOC Glycol Co, a unit of PTT Chemical Plc and a vinyl chloride monomer project owned by Thai Plastic & Chemical Plc.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday urged the civil sector not to stage a mass protest at the end of September, saying they can still talk with the government.He said the concerned agencies will create better understanding on the case among the public.
"The government is ready to talk and listen. If the government is not sincere in solving the Map Ta Phut problem, why it has increased more restrictive conditions? The government is concerned with fact and standard practices and is confident that it has answer in every question," said the prime minister.
"Initially, the private sector responded positively to the announcement of 11 categories of harmful projects as it became clearer. The announcement is now not the main problem. What we have to do is to lay out system which can maintain quality of life of local people and emergency service system, as well as to speed up implementation of some needed projects such as hospitals and garbage disposal, according to Mr Abhisit. (MCOT online news)
