Threat To Blockade Thailand's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate

[webfact]

Map Ta Phut blockade threat

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

NGOs, villagers angry at govt cut to list of harmful activities; demand an explanation

Non-government organisations and villagers threatened yesterday to blockade Map Ta Phut industrial estate to force the government to review its list of 11 harmful industrial activities.

The list, announced on August 31, is seen as being pro-business at the expense of environmental and public health.

Former premier Anand Panya-rachun also urged the government to clearly explain the reasons behind its final list of harmful industrial and related activities.

Anand's four-party committee, tasked with resolving the Map Ta Phut crisis, earlier recommended that 18 industries and related activities be tightly regulated, but the government made changes to the recommendations and only put 11 activities on its official list.

'Use list by Anand panel'

Industrial and related activities on the list are subject to strict requirements of public hearings, environmental and public health impact assessments, etc, in accordance with Article 67 (2) of the Constitution.

NGOs and villagers said they wanted the government to use the list put forward by Anand's panel, instead of the one proposed by the National Environment Board (NEB).

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday defended the government's choice and urged those who disagreed to hold talks with officials concerned.

But NGOs and villagers said they would hold another blockade on September 30 if the government did not review its list.

Anand said the government would have to take sole responsibility for damage if it went ahead with its own list, which allows most of the 76 suspended industrial projects to start operating following the Administrative Court's September 2 verdict.

"People will not trust the government anymore," he said.

Anand also called on the government to speed up measures to reduce pollution in Map Ta Phut and nearby areas by drafting a proper city plan.

The Network of Eastern Residents led by Suthi Atchasai said alliances from across the country would meet at Map Ta Phut later this month to pressure the authorities.

According to Anand, companies funding the 76 projects, previously suspended by court due to their failure to comply with the charter, had earlier pledged to follow the law strictly.

"The list of 11 harmful activities proposed by NEB was made without listening to the people and non-government groups or academic institutes," Veerawat Dheeraprasart, chairman of the Environmental and Health Independent Organisation, said.

"We will send an official letter asking Abhisit to revise this list immediately as it would cause conflict with local communities living around the industrial areas," he said.

The move followed Cabinet's approval of a list of 11 harmful activities submitted by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti.

Compared to Anand's list, the government's version is less strict on environmental and public health protection.

As a result, some projects such as co-generation power schemes are off the hook if their capacity is no larger than 3,000 megawatts. In addition, irrigation schemes are also not covered.

'Govt failed to listen to people'

Veerawat said the NEB had only accepted five of the 18 harmful activities from the original list and put these activities into the new list along with other six harmful activities proposed by NEB.

"The government failed to listen to the people and accept the participation of a civic group," he said.

Meanwhile, Professor Piamsak Menasawet, a committee member for Environmental and Health Indepen-dent Organisation, said there was no clear explanation of the list of 11 harmful activities.

"The committee does not mind the number of harmful activities in the list, but we need a clear explanation based on an academic study to tell us why the government has enforced this list," he said.

However, the organisation expects to continue studying the Environmental and Health Impact Assessments submitted by the state and private sector to seek additional opinions by November.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

[chantorn]

Why try to block Thailand industrial progress. This is the hour of Thailand industrial revolution.

[ScienceGuy]

I drove through Map Tha Phut and Rayong on Sunday. Smells like Benzene and pig manure. My friends in Ban Phe said the beaches are so polluted from Rayong that they can't go into the water now.

[JusMe]

"People will not trust the government anymore,"

There seems to be an unjustified underlying assumption there.

[rubl]

Vaguely remembering having read that it's especially Japanese interest in MTP would it be a good idea to raise environmental & security requirements to the same level as in Japan, or would that be like opening another can of worms ?

Edited September 7, 2010 by rubl

[asiawatcher]

I would love to see what the list of "11" includes. But anything that is environmentally dangerous should be struck off until it comes up with solutions to safely proceed.