March 9, 1998

GAS PIPELINE PROJECT Sulak vows to keep on protesting Planning to file counter-lawsuit Well-known social critic Sulak Sivaraksa has vowed to continue his protest against the Yadana gas pipeline project despite facing charges of obstructing work at the project site in Kanchanaburi. In a lecture on ways out for the Thai society, the prominent social campaigner declared war on the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT), the pipeline builder, and vowed that he would not give up his struggle against the project. He claimed construction of the pipeline would destroy areas of the finest virgin forest left in Thailand and endanger wildlife. Mr Sulak, who was granted bail after he and 40 other protesters were arrested recently, said he was consulting his legal advisers to file a counter-lawsuit against the PTT, which is building the pipeline. "I've asked my lawyers to look into legal aspects on filing a suit against the PTT. I will fight until the project is scrapped," said the onetime Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Mr Sulak, 65, came under fire last week from a senior minister for failing to call off his solo protest despite a pledge by mainstream protesters to give up their stand once the prime minister had made a final decision on the issue. Last month, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai appointed a panel to smooth over differences between supporters and opponents of the project. The panel recommended that villagers and non-governmental organisation participate in monitoring the pipeline work. But Mr Chuan last week gave the green light for the completion of the project. Mr Sulak strongly blasted the Democrat-led government for ignoring the plights of the poor and human rights violations by the Burmese government, which will sell gas to Thailand. He called on all lower-class and middle-class people to join forces to put an end to the controversial project. In his speech the social critic attributed the economic downturn to the influence of consumerism brought into the country by the ruling class. The consumerism has made Thais become slaves of new technology, claimed Mr Sulak, pointing out the gas pipeline project as an example which was built at the expense of natural forest resources.

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