Anti-dam marchers win warm welcome in Bangkok

[webfact]

NO DAM CAMPAIGN
Anti-dam marchers win warm welcome in capital
Jutharat Tipnumpa
The Nation


Opponents of the Mae Wong Dam project in Nakhon Sawan gather in Bangkok yesterday to mark the arrival in the capital of a 13-day, 388km protest march led by conservationist Sasin Chalermlarp, secretary-general of the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation.

13-day walk against Mae Wong Dam project garners wide support among those who say govt is ignoring environmental issues

BANGKOK: -- Campaigners staging a 13-day, 368-kilometre march against the controversial Mae Wong Dam project in Nakhon Sawan arrived in Bangkok yesterday, receiving a warm reception from non-governmental organisations and other dam opponents.

Momentum has been building since the symbolic march from the project site by a group of conservationists led by Sasin Chalermlarp, secretary-general of Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, kicked off 13 days ago. Support among anti-government groups built steadily throughout the course of the march.

Along with comments on social media supportive of the 368-kilometre march, a large number of people representing several anti-government groups welcomed the team's arrival in Bangkok yesterday. They held small gatherings to usher Sasin's entourage along the capital's streets to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, where the march team stopped and rested.

In a brief interview upon his arrival yesterday, Sasin said he was not worried over the vow by the government, and by Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi in particular, to go ahead with the dam project. "I believe in the power of those who agree with me, which makes me feel confident that we can stop the dam project from progressing," he added.

Sasin later issued a statement, read out at the site, dismissing the credibility of the government-commissioned environmental health impact assessment (EHIA) and other details regarding the dam project. The statement also said the Mae Wong project could not effectively solve flooding in the region around Nakhon Sawan, and that the dam was capable of holding less than 1 per cent of the water volume that flowed through the Central region in the massive flooding two years ago.

The march has been hailed by middle-class people, conservationists and environmentalists as a crusade against an array of government projects they deem devastating to the natural environment. It comes despite demonstrations of support for the project by locals living near and around the projected dam site, who believe they would profit from it, as suggested in government documents and based on their own long experience of seasonal droughts and floods. They believe these problems would be solved if the Bt13-billion dam is built.

Sasin, supported by 28 NGOs who signed the statement, submitted a list of eight demands to a representative of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, and vowed to further campaign against the dam project, which has been backed by all previous governments over the past three decades.

A panel of National Environmental Board experts will today consider postponing deliberations on the Mae Wong Dam project, said Udom Kraiwatnusorn, a ministry representative. The possible postponement is seen as resulting from the march and the show of support for it by the project's opponents.

Irrigation authorities say the Mae Wong Dam is needed to cope with drought and flooding problems each year, especially in the region connecting the lower North and the upper South. There are only two areas fit for building large-sized dams - Nakhon Sawan's proposed Mae Wong Dam project site, and an area spanning the Upper and Lower Yom River (Mae Yom) mostly located in Phrae province.

Sasin's statement said the EHIA also failed to designate an area for forestation to make up for around 13,000 rai of fertile forests in Mae Wong National Park that would be lost to the dam project. The statement also alleged unfair changes to personnel on a number of advisory committees, with those showing opposition to the project being replaced, adding that some panels had no representation of experts from NGOs or departments relevant to animal and wildlife conservation.

The march arrived at Bangkok's Kasetsart University at 8.30am yesterday, welcomed by a large group of people who had followed it along the route to the Bangkok arts centre.

Sasin said the march covered around 368km - 20 km short of an early estimate of 388km. He repeated that Mae Wong's jungles were the heart of the area's overall ecological system.


-- The Nation 2013-09-23

[Thai at Heart]

Just in time for the floods. How ironic.

[boomerangutang]

Thailand already has a dearth of natural park space. So flooding what little is left is another reason why it's a bad project. I wouldn't be surprised if members of the Shinawatre gov't have snatched up properties along the perimeter of the future lake. Whether or not, you can be sure not one land hoarder in Thailand pays a satang in real estate taxes.

[ratcatcher]

.....................

Good luck folks, you're going to need it up against "Propeller" Plodprasop Suraswadi and his gang.

[MaiDong]

{style_image_url}/attachicon.gif sasin.jpg{style_image_url}/attachicon.gif dambb.jpg

.....................{style_image_url}/attachicon.gif damb.jpg

 

Good luck folks, you're going to need it up against "Propeller"  Plodprasop Suraswadi and his gang.

I like that, propeller plodprasop, hehehe

[Baerboxer]

Good to see people actively protesting based on good information and concerns,

Will the current government listen or pay any attention? That we shall see.

[boomerangutang]

Good to see people actively protesting based on good information and concerns,

Will the current government listen or pay any attention? That we shall see.

The short answer to your questions is 'no.'

The current government doesn't give a hoot about environment. Their priorities are getting lots of money and getting Thaksin back in the PM's chair - which are related goals, btw.

[umbanda]

NO to dams!!..Build rivers!!!!

[caykay]

NO to dams!!..Build rivers!!!!

Rivers can't be built. They are products of natural water flow. Man made rivers are called canals

[marell]

NO to dams!!..Build rivers!!!!

Rivers can't be built. They are products of natural water flow. Man made rivers are called canals

I think the gentleman was expressing an environmental opinion, not trying to rewrite hydrology.

Edited September 23, 2013 by marell

[55Jay]

A number of interesting sources on a Google search for "thailand watershed" but found this rather unapologetic analysis a good read.

Converted it to a txt document (attached) as the PDF version wouldn't cooperate with uploading for some reason.

[Whale]

I think its fantastic to see concerned people, in whichever country, to peacefully march to protect something they believe should be protected. None of them can gain out of this personally but they believe protecting Thailand's natural heritage plus natural habitat of the tiger (worldwide count around 3200, Thai count around 250) is a worthwhile thing to do.

I applaud them!

[kerrysum]

Good to see people actively protesting based on good information and concerns,

Will the current government listen or pay any attention? That we shall see.

The short answer to your questions is 'no.'

The current government doesn't give a hoot about environment. Their priorities are getting lots of money and getting Thaksin back in the PM's chair - which are related goals, btw.

Just gotta agree with you brother...... Hang on to your Heritage, keep your land Thailand , I have seen this happen before.... I am in the boat, tell the family how to vote, but it is that money thing I guess..... When will they ever learn? So sad.......

kiosierra

[Valentine]

A good, sensible, peaceful protest organized in a way that garnered good publicity. I just hope Khun Sasin has some good security as people like him tend to disappear.

[peterbkk9]

A hydroelectric power plant in itself is a great way to produce electricity. It is renewable and virtually CO2 free.

However, if the environmental aspects are neglected (as it is often the case) it can have disastrous consequences.

There are success stories in Laos for example, where a lot of focus is put on the environmental but also social aspects. It of course comes with a cost.

Edited September 23, 2013 by peterbkk9

[RubbaJohnny]

A hydroelectric power plant in itself is a great way to produce electricity. It is renewable and virtually CO2 free.

However, if the environmental aspects are neglected (as it is often the case) it can have disastrous consequences.

There are success stories in Laos for example, where a lot of focus is put on the environmental but also social aspects. It of course comes with a cost.

Fine sentiment.

Sadly one of the leading Lao Sombhat Somphone environmentalist shas "been disappeaed'

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/19/1171793/-Lao-Environmental-Activist-Disappears

[umbanda]

NO to dams!!..Build rivers!!!!

Rivers can't be built. They are products of natural water flow. Man made rivers are called canals

Yes.....Rivers can be build if running on similar direction of the main river, and with the same slope and identical destination.....the ocean. It is a fantastic task, but may be the only "natural" solution for floods...

[jaidam]

Amusing to consider that the tiger sanctuary is to be flooded by the biggest tiger smuggler in Thai history. Wasn't he even convicted in a Thai court for smuggling 200 of the beasts to China recently? He should be banged up, and leave nature to its own devices.

[Bpuumike]

Good to see people actively protesting based on good information and concerns,

Will the current government listen or pay any attention? That we shall see.

Doubt it, there's no money in it for them.

[stoli]

NO to dams!!..Build rivers!!!!

And this statement perfectly describes why these are just rages without common sense. Where do they build damns where there wasn't first a river? Have you ever lived in an area like Issan where it is hard to grow a second crop of rice, because of lack of water? Wouldn't it be nice to have stored water to help with this situation? Or, is it better to just have the water flow into the ocean? Build multiple damns. If you lose your farmers, you have lost everything needed to survive. Don't you vegans eat rice?