Thai Group Vows To Fight Off Casinos

[george]

Thai group vows to fight off casinos

BANGKOK - The Campaign for Popular Democracy yesterday blasted the government's proposal to open casinos in the kingdom, saying it was contrary to Buddhism and a threat to society.

The activists feared the social impact of legalising casinos, and vowed to fight any move to open them.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced late last month that his government would hold a referendum early next year to determine whether casinos should be legalised in the kingdom.

He said that he would allow construction of casinos with a simple majority of votes.

Popular Democracy secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila told a press conference: 'We will fight to the end.'

Casinos could lure people into gambling and leave their futures to a stroke of luck, said Mr Suriyasai.

'If the government is going to push for casinos, let's close the Culture Ministry and the Social Development and Human Security Ministry,' he said.

Mr Suriyasai said these two ministries - recently established to develop society - would be useless if casinos were operating. He said they should not exist just to soak up state funds.

He also alleged that some interest groups would reap 100 billion baht (S$4.2 billion) in profits from casinos, and that the government had already decided on the location and management of one casino.

He dismissed the government's use of the term 'entertainment complex'.

He said entertainment complexes could take other forms. 'We could have a comprehensive complex for science or history.'

An adviser to the group, Mr Pipop Thongchai, who also works for the Children Foundation, said legalising casinos was not the solution to the spread of illegal gambling dens.

'To tackle the problem, the authorities can use other means, such as seizing the assets of illegal operators,' he said.

Mr Pipop urged the government to listen to the voice of the majority and hold a public hearing.

-- Asia News Network 2003-12-09