Public participation being ignored in major projects, experts say

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Public participation being ignored in major projects, experts say
By Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

 

Photo via : https://greennews.agency

 

BANGKOK: -- MORE CONFLICTS over development projects will take place across the country unless genuine public participation is guaranteed, experts have warned.

 

Participants at an academic forum yesterday at Rangsit University said that the current processes of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental and Health Impact Assessments (EHIAs) did not ensure proper public participation.

 

The processes generated conflict so there should be reform before public input is sought on projects such as the proposed Pak Bara seaport or the Krabi coal-fired power plant, they said.

 

Dr Suphat Hasuwankit, Chana Hospital director and a prominent opponent of the Thepa coal-fired power plant, said the EIA and EHIA processes were only rituals that project owners had to go through while proper public involvement was ignored.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30308390

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-09

[jerojero]

Of course the public is ignored. Elitism is live and well, and ongoing. The masses should accept their place, just as done over the last 2500 years. Let the Elite 10% look after your concerns, after all they have the money to prove their superiority.

[PatOngo]

Major Projects, constitutions, referendums, reconciliation...........thankfully the public are highly educated.

[debate101]

Looks to me like the public has an "incorrect understanding of democracy" (see the 7th of the 12 core values, maybe?)

[whatawonderfulday]

42 minutes ago, jerojero said:

Of course the public is ignored. Elitism is live and well, and ongoing. The masses should accept their place, just as done over the last 2500 years. Let the Elite 10% look after your concerns, after all they have the money to prove their superiority.

 

And of course how could you possibly involve the public ? the Elites and their goons are  creaming of 35% of each and every  projects budgets so to provide them with properties and investment overseas together with a sprinkling of Lambos and Bentleys etc in Thailand. If the public are involved they also would demand their Tea money.  Now we can't have this riff raff getting some of the spoils can we ? Their place is on the streets or getting a pittance for working in the Elite's sweatshops.

[colinneil]

 

Public participation is being ignored, we need experts to tell us that.

The public masses are there to be controlled, not asked to participate. 

[smutcakes]

Some of these projects are obviously vast and extremely complicated. It would,d be genuinely interesting to see how an EIA on them is carried out, who carries it out, what experts they use and the General process of how one is conducted.

[Lupatria]

Public ignored by majors and generals?

[Krataiboy]

“The (National Environmental Quality) Act lets the consultant company hired by the project owner conduct the EIA/EHIA and [control] public participation. . . " (from the full Nation article).

 

Clearly, the game is rigged in favour of the big developers from day one. Yet still the junta isn't satisfied and wants controversial projects "fast-tracked" irrespective of how potentially damaging to people and the environment they may be.

 

Act in haste. . . 

[elgordo38]

We did not need an expert to tell us that. 

[elgordo38]

7 hours ago, whatawonderfulday said:

And of course how could you possibly involve the public ? the Elites and their goons are  creaming of 35% of each and every  projects budgets so to provide them with properties and investment overseas together with a sprinkling of Lambos and Bentleys etc in Thailand. If the public are involved they also would demand their Tea money.  Now we can't have this riff raff getting some of the spoils can we ? Their place is on the streets or getting a pittance for working in the Elite's sweatshops.

Welcome to the new world order. 

[darksidedog]

This shows exactly what the Government think of the working man.

Not even worthy to be consulted properly when something that can have a detrimental effect is coming.

The "consultation' is simply an exercise for the developers to go through. Utterly disgraceful. Truly Thailand.

[spidermike007]

The public has been ignored for over a millennia. Unless they are wealthy, connected, or know the right people, their voices are never heard. And despite the hyperbole to the contrary, Little P. is all about maintaining the status quo, NOT rocking the apple cart, and making sure the rich remain rich, and the poor remain poor. He does not care one iota for the average Thai. His indifference is ugly. 

 

Little P. - Moving Thailand backwards at an astonishing, breath taking, and alarming pace. 

[mtls2005]

The amart knows what's best for the country.

 

If you don't like it you can proceed directly to jail.