Thailand's Prime Minister Chuan Hints Gas Project to Go Ahead Despite Violent Public Opposition by Phairath Khampha 30 October 2000 Despite two days of violence in Songkhla as a result of the public hearing on the Thai-Malaysian gas-pipeline project, Thailand's Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai strongly indicated on October 23, 2000 that the controversial project would go ahead as planned, even though there was large public opposition to the project. He said it was normal for there to be differing views over such a project but that violence should be avoided. Chuan said he believed the government would be able to ensure a "good understanding" among the public about the gas-pipeline project. He added that state agencies such as the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) which were involved in the project should "work harder" to try to clear up misunderstandings. The project met with strong opposition from local residents and environmentalists because it will damage the ecosystem and the tourism industry and hurt local residents' livelihoods. This is a common occurrance with Thailand's mega-projects. Such projects generally serve to protect the interests of Thailand's economic and political elite instead of bringing about any general benefit to Thailand's public. A public hearing on October 21 was cut short after hundreds of protesters clashed with police and stormed into the Hat Yai sports stadium where the hearing was held. Officials concluded the meeting with a resolution to carry out construction. About 200 protesters gathered in front of the Chana district police station the morning of October 23 to demand the arrest of six people who had fired shots at their vehicles while they were on their way home after the protest on October 21. The six people were seen entering the premises of the Hat Yai office of Trans Thai-Malaysia Company, the pipeline project's owner, after the shots were fired. One suspect, Dolya Ali Sani, 45, was arrested in connection with the shooting, but the protesters also wanted the remaining five to be arrested. The suspect, charged with attempted murder, was detained at the provincial court. The number of protesters swelled to more than 500 in the afternoon, with some hurling rocks and petrol bombs into the police station, causing a small fire and minor damage. The move was in response to rocks that were hurled into tents where protesters were gathering. It was unknown who threw the rocks. "Burn it down! Burn it down!" shouted the protesters as policemen carrying computers, TVs and documents evacuated the station. The protesters made a threefold demand for the transfers of Chana deputy police chief Lt Col Mano Maneewong and investigator Capt Samart Boonmee, who they said were slow to respond to their demands; for no legal action to be taken against the protesters; and for the arrests of the remaining suspects within three days. At about 5pm, Major General Manote Kraiwong, deputy chief of police region 9 covering Songkhla, came to negotiate with the protesters. In concessions to calm the crowd, he said police would arrest the suspects within seven days and he agreed to transfer the two officers. "I promise you we will not take any legal action against protesters," Manote told the crowd through a loudspeaker. The protesters then dispersed at about 5.30pm. Manote told reporters later that the nature of the situation forced him to make the promises and conceded that seven days might be insufficient to arrest the other suspects. Why was not clear although the longer police take to act in Thailand the sooner people forget and so the action, unpopular withthe elite, does not have to be carried out. Some 30 reporters covering the protest at the police station met with hostile gestures from many of the protesters who complained about the "one-sided reporting" of some media organisations, especially TV stations, on Saturday's unrest. The protesters said the reports made them appear bloodthirsty. The Southern Civic Network, a group of non-governmental organisations opposed to the project, called a press conference on October 23 afternoon to attack the government's use of force and the abrupt conclusion of the public hearing. "This public hearing is illegitimate and violates the local community's rights," the group said in a statement. Phichai Srisai of the Songkhla Civic Group said unnamed members of the Democrat, Thai Rak Thai, and Chat Pattana parties who were "strongly supporting" the project of benefiting from land speculation. In Bangkok, some 200 Northeastern villagers who had been camping outside Government House for weeks walked to Baan Phitsanulok, the prime minister's official residence, at 8pm on October 23 to call on the government to review the pipeline project. Leaders of the group took turns attacking the government through a megaphone atop a pickup truck. They said the project's "dubious nature" and the "deceiving" public hearing prompted the violence in Songkhla. They said the decision to push ahead with the project would cause a bigger rift in society and could lead to worse unrest. The protest went on peacefully with some protesters carrying banners denouncing the pipeline project. About 100 police officers manned a blockade in front of the prime minister's residence. The protesters dispersed after handing their open letter to Prime Minister Chuan to an official at Baan Phitsanulok. On the night of October 21, Chuan called on the relevant state agencies, namely the Industry Ministry and PTT, to try to clear any "misunderstanding" about the project among the locals. The agencies "certainly will have to work hard to try to create good understanding. It's easy to avoid the problem; that's doing nothing. But the public will get no benefits and the country will stand to lose," Chuan said. He said the government would never allow any project that would cause more harm than good, adding that every project has negative impacts. Still, a project should go ahead if it is deemed beneficial to the majority of society. This is a common statement, although most such projects in the end seem have little benefit to the majority of society and much benefit for the economic and political elite of Thailand. Chuan said some of those involved in the protest on October 21 were "professional protesters" who go from place to place to participate in protests against state projects. But he said that did not mean any third party was involved in the protest against the Songkhla gas-pipeline project. The prime minister was speaking to reporters late on October 21 night at Bangkok International Airport after his return from an Asian and European leaders' summit in Seoul. Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa and possibly Thailand's most venal politician with much vested interest in the project on October 23 called on the government to make a decision soon about the gas-pipeline project's future. He said it was not sensible for the government to leave the matter in the hands of the next government. "This government is not a caretaker government. We can't wait any longer," he said, adding that a delay to the project could be damaging to the country's interests. Banharn expressed concern about the violence during and after the public hearing on October 21. He called on both the opponents and supporters of the project to compromise and exercise tolerance. Pipeline foes undertake 'victory' rally About 2,000 opponents of the controversial Thai-Malaysian gas pipeline marched through Songkhla town on October 28, celebrating what they saw as a victory after the four people suspected of shooting at the protesters were arrested. Two of the four suspects, Ma-ae Tobaham, 23, and Chamras Mancharoen, 28, turned themselves in at Chana police station on the night before. The other two, Pariya Parare and Dolayamalee Hayi, had surrendered earlier in Hat Yai. The four were accused of the shooting that occurred near Hat Yai stadium, where protesters were demonstrating against the pipeline's public hearing. All four suspects were released on bail, pending the completion of the police investigation. Following October 28 march, which included a convoy of 30 cars, opponents of the pipeline held a rally attacking the government for what they called its indifference to community demands. Some opponents also criticised Songkhla's eight MPs for ignoring the concerns of their constituents. However, Thai politicians usually are corrupt perpetrators of government projects which do little to meet the needs and aspirations of local people, but much to meet the needs and aspirations of the politicians themselves or of vested interests in the area. Songkhla Senator Sompong Srakavi attended the rally to show his support. Chana residents, who live along the pipeline's route, remained split on the issue but there was no sign of escalating violence, Songkhla Islamic Committee chairman Asis Pitakkhumphol said. Meanwhile, the Songkhla Municipality indicated it planned to commission a 7 million Baht study that would be used to draft a 20-year development strategy, municipal spokesman Amornlak Inthase said. The study would cover Songkhla town and surrounding areas, including Tambon Sinha Nakhon, Ko Kaew, Ko Yo, Khao Roopchang, and Tambon Phawong.