Govt Warned Foreigners May Take Control Of Nation's Water

[george]

Govt warned foreigners may take control of nation's water

BANGKOK: -- Allowing foreign investors to manipulate water development projects under the government's 1.8-trillion-baht megaprojects scheme could block public participation and give foreigners greater control of the country's natural resources, critics have warned. Hannarong Yaowaloes, a member of the Economic and Social Advisory Council, said the constitution gave people the right to take part in natural resources management and decision-making for projects with possible adverse impacts.

The government had left no room for the public to take part in the decision-making process in managing the country's natural resources, they said.

''It gives the feeling the government has shut the door on public participation. This will eventually lead to confrontations between project developers and locals adversely affected by the projects,'' said Mr Hannarong.

Water development and transport projects are the most attractive megaproject investment plan, which also includes national defence, natural resources, information and communication, and cultural development projects.

Buntoon Srethasirote, adviser to the Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, said the international bidding for megaprojects had triggered public fears that even the country's natural resources might fall under the absolute control of foreign private firms and end what little role the people had played in resources management.

''Under the government's foreign investment drive, it is not unusual to see the state provide incentives to developers. But this could also lead to exemptions of terms and conditions in the bidding contracts to favour the investors,'' he said.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan, meanwhile, has appointed the Royal Irrigation Department as the handler of the international bidding for water-related megaprojects. The department would be in charge of screening the project proposals and submitting the shortlist to a ministry-level committee.

The ministry's water development master plan also includes projects on water quality control, irrigation development, and water crisis management.

The government has estimated the projects would cost around 200 billion baht.

The minister has, however, conceded that the department's knowledge might not be sufficient to consider all the proposals, and the ministry might have to bring in other parties to help.

Khunying Sudarat has assured that the committee will work transparently.

The government has set April 28 as the deadline for interested parties to make technical proposals. A month or two later, they will be invited to offer financial proposals. Screening is expected to be finished by September with the first of the projects to be embarked upon by year-end.

--Bangkok Post 2006-02-01

[terdsak_12]

We'll fill up all our buckets and take it all back to Farangland ha ha ha ha ha ha (Evil laugh).

[FlyingDutchman]

Govt warned foreigners may take control of nation's water

BANGKOK: -- Allowing foreign investors to manipulate water development projects under the government's 1.8-trillion-baht megaprojects scheme could block public participation and give foreigners greater control of the country's natural resources, critics have warned .

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Water development and transport projects are the most attractive megaproject investment plan, which also includes national defence , natural resources, information and communication, and cultural development projects.

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The minister has, however, conceded that the department's knowledge might not be sufficient to consider all the proposals, and the ministry might have to bring in other parties to help .

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--Bangkok Post 2006-02-01

The Netherlands is (Dutch are) famous for the defence against water (dikes). Even the Americans are now visiting the Netherlands after the disaster with the Katharina hurricane, to learn from the Dutch and to make business agreements. America has very protective national industries and they are seeking a way to lead the Dutch into it (say 50%-50% development).

I guess the Thai minister should invite our Prince William-Alexander (head of water development) and make some deals to protect Thailand from future disasters. There are no other people on this earth more known with water development. There is a saying : "God created the earth and the Dutch created the Netherlands (Holland) ..." For they even create large pieces of land out of the sea.

Edited February 1, 2006 by FlyingDutchman

[JXXXL]

Govt warned foreigners may take control of nation's water

BANGKOK: -- Allowing foreign investors to manipulate water development projects under the government's 1.8-trillion-baht megaprojects scheme could block public participation and give foreigners greater control of the country's natural resources, critics have warned .

---

Water development and transport projects are the most attractive megaproject investment plan, which also includes national defence , natural resources, information and communication, and cultural development projects.

---

The minister has, however, conceded that the department's knowledge might not be sufficient to consider all the proposals, and the ministry might have to bring in other parties to help .

---

--Bangkok Post 2006-02-01

The Neterlands is (Dutch are) famous for the defence against water (dikes). Even the Americans are now visiting the Netherlands after the disaster with the Katharina hurricane, to learn from the Dutch and to make business agreements. America has very protective national industries and they are seeking a way to lead the Dutch into it (say 50%-50% development).

I guess the Thai minister should invite our Prince William-Alexander (head of water development) and make some deals to protect Thailand from future disasters. There are no other people on this earth more known with water development. There is a saying : "God created the earth and the Dutch created the Netherlands (Holland) ..." For they even create large pieces of land out of the sea.

Of course the Thais could benefit from Dutch expertise in this area. However, this is just a classic example of why Thailand is destined to be a 3rd world banana republic. Some people in the govt are astute enough to realize that foreign firms can build infrastructure better and cheaper than Thai firms, but corrupt interests won't let it happen. So typical and sickening.

[FlyingDutchman]

Of course the Thais could benefit from Dutch expertise in this area. However, this is just a classic example of why Thailand is destined to be a 3rd world banana republic. Some people in the govt are astute enough to realize that foreign firms can build infrastructure better and cheaper than Thai firms, but corrupt interests won't let it happen. So typical and sickening.

They would be dumb (least to say), to let money and national intrest go befòre national security. If one disaster takes place again (God forbid), then the national savings will be more at risk, than with a good agreement with the Dutch. As America also has vèry protective (dollar wise) national industries, they knòw they need the Dutch and are seeking a way to come together, avoiding the national protective laws (which say only American businesses may to the job).

[JXXXL]

Of course the Thais could benefit from Dutch expertise in this area. However, this is just a classic example of why Thailand is destined to be a 3rd world banana republic. Some people in the govt are astute enough to realize that foreign firms can build infrastructure better and cheaper than Thai firms, but corrupt interests won't let it happen. So typical and sickening.

They would be dumb (least to say), to let money and national intrest go befòre national security. If one disaster takes place again (God forbid), then the national savings will be more at risk, than with a good agreement with the Dutch. As America also has vèry protective (dollar wise) national industries, they knòw they need the Dutch and are seeking a way to come together, avoiding the national protective laws (which say only American businesses may to the job).

What possible risk would there be to national security having a foreign company win a contract to build a civilian infrastructure project?

Wanna take a guess what the biggest risk is to Thailand's national security and future? Try corruption. Any honest Thai would tell you the same thing.

[tavarich]

why don't they just give the contracts to Singapore. They don't seem to mind that the telecom industry is owned by them.

[FlyingDutchman]

What possible risk would there be to national security having a foreign company win a contract to build a civilian infrastructure project?

Wanna take a guess what the biggest risk is to Thailand's national security and future? Try corruption. Any honest Thai would tell you the same thing.

I guess you are right ...

why don't they just give the contracts to Singapore. They don't seem to mind that the telecom industry is owned by them.

Where do you think the Singapore's got their knowledge from ? ... I bet they have to hire the Dutch to do the job ...

Edited February 1, 2006 by FlyingDutchman

[astral]

Too late.

China has already taken control of many of the major rivers,

by building dams upstream in Chinese territory.

This type of strategy will be a major area of conflict in the years to come,

not just for Thailand, but all over the world.

[FlyingDutchman]

Too late.

China has already taken control of many of the major rivers,

by building dams upstream in Chinese territory.

This type of strategy will be a major area of conflict in the years to come,

not just for Thailand, but all over the world.

Read this topic also, click ...

"Too late." Not for the Dutch ... they don't build dams, these are for producing electricity, not for protection and we don't have hill's here so we don't build them (Netherland means 'low land', it's totally flat and most of it belòw sea level ...).

I, however agree with you that the Chinese will "take over the world" ...

[britainmal]

The Thai gov't seems to forget all this coruption that takes place are with the Thai-Chinese social elites. Foreigners doing business are the least corrup and they are helping poor population improve their lives. Who is really improving the lives of the Issan people not the Thai Gov't for sure.

[sierra01]

Successive Govt's haven't made very good job of tackling the annual water shortages so far, nor the quality and reliable supply of it either. Every year is the same, lots of 'well do this, we'll do that, we'll spend X amount here, X amount there' and we all know the end result of it. Water shortages, low quality, low pressure, and more burst pipes than you can shake a stick at. Maybe it's time to let outsiders in that actually know what they're doing (the Dutch guys are campaigning hard!), the home grown 'experts' don't seem to.

[phuketsiam]

well said

[opothai]

Buntoon Srethasirote, adviser to the Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, said the international bidding for megaprojects had triggered public fears that even the country's natural resources might fall under the absolute control of foreign private firms and end what little role the people had played in resources management

me thinks the public do not even know or understand the implications of foreign investment in this field, if they did i would hazzard a guess that the general public would give it a go after years and years of the same old problem.

and if the thai ministers publish statements' 'FORIEGNERS OWNING THAI WATER ' with out a full disclosure of how it may enhance the water supply system, well what would you think

oh and nearly forgot what part do the 'people' play in any sort of management , [ apart from electing the idiots]

this i think is a press release worded and aimed at getting people to be nationalistic to protect thier own interests

Edited February 1, 2006 by opothai

[Ricardo]

Now if the liquid concerned was Beer rather than Water , I guess there might be real reason for concern, that the foreigners were buying more than their fair share !

As in, "I'm just going out, to do some practical research, on buying up Thai national resources , see you later Khun Wife."

Edited February 1, 2006 by Ricardo