Prayuth says no to proposal to dig Kra Isthmus Canal in Prachuap Khiri Khan

BANGKOK: -- National Council for Peace and Order Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha Friday expressed opposition to the long-proposed Kra Isthmus Canal project.

"Why should we turn Thailand into an island out of the blue?" Prayuth said while chairing a live telecast budget meeting.

China has recently stepped the proposal for building the canal, saying it would be an alternative to the Malacca Strait, which has the problems of pirates, shipwrecks, haze, sediment and shoals.


-- The Nation 2014-06-13

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Surely this is too big and important for one man to decide on.

^ Surely that's exactly how the current system works.

(That system has a name of course, but no need to go into that deep detail. )

normally I might disagree but when the argument is that it turns Thailand into an island..........then how can one really disagree?

normally I might disagree but when the argument is that it turns Thailand into an island..........then how can one really disagree?

I mean look what happened to Panama. Turned South America into the largerst island on the planet,right out of the blue.

these are the wrong arguments against it.

Thailand signed a binding treaty with the UK (still valid), not to build the canal. This project is on the agenda for ages already. China's proposal (if true) is the last in that chain.

It's not that they don't want it (indeed in overall it would be a benefit on a wider scale), but there would be far reaching consequences. For example, Singapore would be out of business in no time.

All the politicians and influential people who bought land near the proposed site ,years ago,

will have to wait a bit longer to reap the rewards,must be a few disappointed people.

regards worgeordie

Is there a link to a map somewhere showing the location of the proposed canal?

It would probably blocked with garbage within a year,i think the general realises this and has stopped it.

Why build a canal when rising sea levels will do the job ... just wait 30 years.

The latest TAT advert clearly states that Thailand is bordered by Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia to the north and the Gulf of Thailand to the south

these are the wrong arguments against it.

Thailand signed a binding treaty with the UK (still valid), not to build the canal. This project is on the agenda for ages already. China's proposal (if true) is the last in that chain.

It's not that they don't want it (indeed in overall it would be a benefit on a wider scale), but there would be far reaching consequences. For example, Singapore would be out of business in no time.

Seems so indeed:

From Wiki: "As such, there is a long standing rumor in the region that Singapore and Malaysia have been trying very hard to prevent the construction of the project by bribing Thai officials to vote against the construction of the project in the Bangkok parliament. The conspiracy theory is widely believed given the incentive that both of these countries have in protecting their own economy and industries who stand to lose a substantial sum of business if the project was erected."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_Canal

Strange for him to say no though, with the 3.3T Baht project and new ports, that would go well together with that canal..

these are the wrong arguments against it.

Thailand signed a binding treaty with the UK (still valid), not to build the canal. This project is on the agenda for ages already. China's proposal (if true) is the last in that chain.

It's not that they don't want it (indeed in overall it would be a benefit on a wider scale), but there would be far reaching consequences. For example, Singapore would be out of business in no time.

This canal project would be a major waste of time and money. There is already a proposal to build the region's largest deep sea port, said to be 10 times larger than Laem Chabang, and possibly the largest in the world if completed, located near Dawei, Myanmar. That project includes supporting infrastructure to the Thai side, such as an 8-lane 350km expressway between Dawei and Bangkok via the Phu Nam Ron/Tiki border crossing and passing through Kanchanaburi to Bang Yai. This project site is also much closer to China than the Isthmus of Kra region. Unfortunately, the Thai contractor, Italian-Thai has run into some financial difficulties but maybe the current administration can again table the Dawei project so it starts to see some progress?

If China wants to make an impact, it should support that project and not a dumb project that would basically turn southern Thailand and peninsular Malaysia into an island and probably cost many times more than the aforementioned project. I fully agree with the general - the Isthmus of Kra canal project should never see the light of day.

As they say, why re-invent the wheel when you can do things much more simply?

30 years? It'll be more like 300-3000 years.... plenty of time to move to higher grounds.

China has recently stepped the proposal for building the canal, saying it would be an alternative to the Malacca Strait, which has the problems of pirates, shipwrecks, haze, sediment and shoals

Sure would make it easier for the Chinese to claim the disputed teritorial waters as their own if this cannal was built! IMO

Why build a canal when rising sea levels will do the job ... just wait 30 years.

there is a mountain range!

Are the powers-that-be somewhat tied to a recent agreement with Myanmar regarding the construction of a port at Dawei?...for the use of import/export from here via Phu Nam Ron border crossing.

If the Thais dug this canal, & ships could save 3 days sailing-time to BKK, there would be not much gain for the Thais to send goods by road to the Dawei port.

Just a thought..?

Is it so hard for his critics to realise that the General has a sense of humour? Along with enough intelligence to know that not everything is affordable on a limited budget.

I agree with almost everything this guy has said and done, hes a General, a military man, not thinking of the obvious benefits, hes thinking of security issues.

The project will be extremely costly.

Imagine the amazing waste of money due to corruption on absolutely all levels.

However, if it is done, the reward is amazing.

While the Chinese continue to put a lot of pressure on Thailand to move forward with this long-envisioned (circa 1850's) project, they cannot overcome the "separation" argument.

Obviously Singapore, where this project is often couched in terms like "Doomsday", would have a lot to lose, so they continue to lobby against it.

http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2013/4040bld_kra_asia.html

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/08/14/opinion/opinion_30011008.php

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/thailand/kra-canal.htm

How he can say it is "Out of The Blue" when a fellow Army Officer, General Chavilit has proposed this several times as a Royal Project. The canal has been in the "must do" list since 1793. It is one of the King's pet projects and I served on several consultancies at the design and pre-bid stages when it received the green light twice only to be cancelled after Gen. Chavalit lost power.

Prachuap Khiri Khan? Another great headline. It doesn't even have an outlet to the Andaman Sea

normally I might disagree but when the argument is that it turns Thailand into an island..........then how can one really disagree?

Not sure how Thailand can be an Island without digging the canal around the border with Cambodia Laos and Myanmar. He may consider the part south of the proposed canal as an island connected to Malaysia. Maybe he is scared that this part ( mostly Muslem ) would then try and separate from Mainland Thailand

Digging the Panama canal didn't separate Panama into 2 parts nor Egypt when Suez canal was dug

The project will be extremely costly.

Imagine the amazing waste of money due to corruption on absolutely all levels.

However, if it is done, the reward is amazing.

There is now corruption anymore. The General is in charge!!!

Good news , building that canal for China would create massive environmental damage , not to mention political issues !

I think he's deciding everything, big, small, it doesn't matter.

It's so easy to be a dictator, but so hard to govern.

Here is another statement that justifies posters anger on your attitude, you are not criticizing your being personal./ what's with you.???

why not say something like he is not a water top dog -- why not stop stirring. try a non political thread like most of us.

normally I might disagree but when the argument is that it turns Thailand into an island..........then how can one really disagree?

When a bridge or a tunnel is part of the infrastructure, there is nothing that would turn Thailand into an island.....

Now Myanmar has planned to build an harbor, so don't need Bkk Harbor nor Leam Chabang anymore if they don't dig the canal .