Thailand: Scepticism over dam forums amid reports of bogus 'ghost villages'

[webfact]

Scepticism over dam forums amid reports of bogus 'ghost villages'
SUTTHIPHONG SETTHARANGSEE
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- MANDATORY PUBLIC HEARINGS taking place in several provinces are supposed to influence the outcome of the government's Bt350-billion flood- and water-management scheme, however it remains doubtful if these forums will identify the real concerns of local residents affected by various projects.

A public hearing being held at a local Rajabaht Institute campus in Chaiyaphum province next Wednesday is another chance for locals - whose houses and farmland could be lost under two dam projects - to make themselves heard. But it remains to be seen if they will really be given the opportunity.

The northeastern province is the origin of the Chi River, and after 14 previous public hearings held in all provinces in this region, this will be the last one. Under the scheme, the Nang Na Dee and Upper Chi dam projects worth Bt6-billion in total, will be constructed in Ban Khwao and Nong Bua Daeng districts - flooding some 18,000 rai (2,880 hectares) of residential property, rice paddies and plantations.

Phongsak Yimsa-ngiam, a kamnan in Nong Bua Daeng district, said the Upper Chi dam project, initiated in 1967, would inundate 10 villages with several-thousand households and vast areas of farmland. He questioned authorities' sincerity in conducting next Wednesday's hearing and the opportunity it will give people to really voice their opposition to the projects.

He said the reported compensation of Bt50,000 per rai of land was not enough to match present land prices, and that even though Bt1 million was offered in compensation for housing, it would not cover the cost of buying a new house in a residential or urban area.

Prasart Bunying, a resident in Ban Khwao district where Nang Na Dee dam will be constructed, said not enough information had been given to residents and they remained in the dark about their future. "Once the dam is approved, how much money will be given to us, if our properties are lost to the dam? And where do we live, after the dam is built?"

He said the public hearing on Wednesday would likely be attended by kamnan and village heads. Pro-dam supporters recruited by authorities would also accompany them. Prasart said 70 per cent of residents were opposed to the dam, but doubted their names would be noted in post-hearing recommendations - even if they attended next week's hearing.

Apart from the customary kickbacks from contractors, which have encouraged politicians and government policy makers to initiate government projects, the flood- and water-management scheme has allegedly resulted in extensive land-grabbing in many provinces. This so-called practice of building "ghost villages" has been widely reported, but so far, it has not been investigated by local authorities or the police.

Under the practice, housing projects are built on mostly private land located in areas designated for flood management projects. Compensation for land expropriation is then sought by the financiers of the housing projects, once the water management scheme for the area is approved. False compensation claims are then allegedly made on behalf of "ghost people" living as local residents in on the housing projects.


-- The Nation 2013-11-25

[arthurboy]

'Apart from the customary kickbacks from contractors, which have encouraged politicians and government policy makers to initiate government projects, the flood- and water-management scheme has allegedly resulted in extensive land-grabbing in many provinces. This so-called practice of building "ghost villages" has been widely reported, but so far, it has not been investigated by local authorities or the police.'

So on yet another day when so-called politics is eating away at the heart of Thailand, the cancer of everyday, commonplace corruption continues unabated.

And no one gives a toss.

[Bakseeda]

These so called politicians should be lined up and shot....... Money is the new God of Thailand... Thanks to a certain man in Dubai... and his clan..

[klauskunkel]

'Apart from the customary kickbacks from contractors, which have encouraged politicians and government policy makers to initiate government projects, the flood- and water-management scheme has allegedly resulted in extensive land-grabbing in many provinces. This so-called practice of building "ghost villages" has been widely reported, but so far, it has not been investigated by local authorities or the police.'

So on yet another day when so-called politics is eating away at the heart of Thailand, the cancer of everyday, commonplace corruption continues unabated.

And no one gives a toss.

...or a dam

[BudRight]

Blame the dam forums. That's what I do

[BudRight]

By the way, does anyone know where I can get a tinker's dam? Nobody will give me one...

[HUAHIN62]

Typical report all speculation and no proof. Dont the Nation and Bangkok

Post know what investigative journalism is. They make claims of corruption but never ever come up with names, places or any details. At first one can believe them but after a couple of years you just smile and shake your head. The propaganda effort by the third force is being intensified and will not stop until their puppets are back in power. So the poor Thais have a choice between the puppets of TS and the puppets of the third force. Both are corrupt to the core but atleast one was elected while the other thrive of coups.

[Baerboxer]

Plod let the cat out of the bag some time ago when he cheerfully announced everything would go ahead as planned as soon as the forums, EIAs and HIAs were completed and out of the way. No thought, concern or intention of changing anything.

People have to understand. Dr.Thaksin has been to Korea and done the deal already. Your democratically elected government knows what's best for you, trust them, just give them 6 months na.

[waza]

The level of corruption displayed by this scam is staggering, second only to the rice scam

[bigbamboo]

Why not ghost villages? If the stores are to be believed there are an awful lot of ghosts in Thailand.

They've got to live somewhere.

[Emdog]

"even though Bt1 million was offered in compensation for housing, it would not cover the cost of buying a new house in a residential or urban area." That may be true, but what does that have to do with this? They are not living in an urban area, right?

Perhaps names aren't named here because of the libel laws? That truth of the charge is no defence if it damages the reputation of the crooks.... In Thailand, the truth will not set you free, but set you back a pile of money and maybe jail time. Good way to keep it vague.....