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Anand says panel has no power to ma



February 15, 1998


                                    



                          GAS PIPELINE PROJECT

              Anand says panel
              has no power to
              make decision

              Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun conceded yesterday
              that a government-appointed committee which he chairs to
              gather information about the Burmese gas pipeline project has no
              power to decide on the project's future.

              The committee's process in listening to information from
              opponents and supporters of the project could not be viewed as
              a public hearing as constituted under the new charter since the
              project was already underway, he said.

              "A public hearing has to be done before a project begins," he
              said.

              The committee, made up of 13 members which was ordered
              formed on Thursday by the government, had a duty in gathering
              information to be presented by the two sides involved in the
              conflict for forwarding to the prime minister for consideration,
              Mr Anand said.

              Mr Anand noted, however, that he was informed about his
              appointment to the committee only yesterday morning by
              Government House officials.

              This was the reason he did not show up for a meeting with other
              members on Friday.

              The information-gathering process by the committee began
              yesterday and will go on until February 23. Representatives of
              the opponents and the supporters will provide information on the
              committee and their reasons why the gas pipeline project should
              be stopped or continued.




                                    




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Last Modified: Sun, Feb 15, 1998