BKK Post, March 1, 1998 YADANA GAS

[burma@xxxxxxxxxx]

March 1, 1998
YADANA GAS PLAN / PRIME MINISTER'S DECISION

Pipeline project to go ahead
But PM wants some problems corrected

The construction of a Thai-Burmese gas pipeline through rich forests in 
Kanchanaburi to bring natural gas from Burma's Yadana field must 
continue although there are still shortcomings to be corrected, Prime 
Minister Chuan Leekpai said yesterday.

"I have decided that the project must continue. I don't have the right 
to stop it. The (Anand Payarachun-led) panel studying the project 
suggested that I give my opinion to end the controversy.

"My opinion is that the project cannot be scrapped. It must continue. 
However, observations raised by the panel are useful. They will be 
passed on to concerned agencies for further action," Mr Chuan said.

The prime minister appointed the panel to sort out differences between 
the PTT, owner of the project, and grassroots, environmental and human 
rights groups opposing it.

The panel concluded last Wednesday the PTT was "not transparent" in its 
implementation of the project and recommended the government act quickly 
to alleviate social and environmental effects of the project.

Observations on several shortcomings in the project raised by the Anand 
panel prompted the prime minister to fly to Kanchanaburi yesterday for 
inspection.

He was accompanied by Amnuay Patise, PM's deputy secretary-general, 
National Economic and Social Development Board and National Energy 
Policy Office personnel, and Petroleum Authority of Thailand's project 
director Somchet Taeracoop.

At the 9th Infantry Division headquarters the prime minister listened to 
a briefing on the project by governor Direk Uthaipol, who said opponents 
to the project had ended their protest and gradually left the protest 
site.

Following the briefing Mr Chuan and his entourage flew in a helicopter 
to inspect the pipeline route beginning from Ban Itong in Thong Pha Phum 
district, where the pipeline on the Thai side is to meet the one that is 
being laid across Burma from the Yadana field in the Andaman Sea.

After the inspection flight, the prime minister said the PTT and other 
concerned agencies must look into the observations raised by the Anand 
panel for further action.

Mr Chuan said he noticed several spots in the forest through which the 
pipeline is being built was being razed by fire. He asked Mr Direk, the 
provincial governor, to stop the fires.

Asked about social critic Sulak Sivaraksa's vow to state a lone protest 
if he gives the green light for the project to continue, Mr Chuan said 
Mr Sulak has the right under the constitution to protect natural 
resources.

"The pipeline must continue. Whoever wants to go and stay in the forest 
is free to do so," he said.

A pipeline supporter quickly endorsed Mr Chuan's decision, saying the 
go-ahead ruling had been a foregone conclusion and the prime minister 
had merely wanted to properly weigh the project's pros and cons.

"I think the prime minister decided to investigate the project just to 
test the waters, as the conservationists did not have strong reasons to 
back up their claims," said Paisan Lab-buangarm chairman of the 
Kanchanaburi tourism association.

Mr Paisan was the organiser of a huge rally to support the gas pipeline 
in January which drew thousands of supporters to Kanchanaburi province 
on the Burmese border.

However, opponents of the project were full of scorn for the premier's 
statement.

They said the prime minister must have already decided at the outset 
that the pipeline project had to be continued and the opponents of the 
project still could not understand even until now why he had wasted his 
time setting up the Anand committee, said Miss Penphan Intapantee, 
coordinator of conservationist groups opposing the project.

She reaffirmed, however, that all protesters of the project will be 
pulled out of the construction site by today to honour an earlier 
promise.

The pipeline, which will pump natural gas from Burma's Yadana gas field 
in the Andaman Sea to a power plant in Ratchaburi, was suspended amid 
protests by conservationists who said it would damage forests and 
community areas.

Construction on the 260-kilometre Thai section of the pipeline was 
suspended last month as the government examined the conflicting claims 
of supporters and opponents of the scheme.

The PTT said any delays in construction would result in it being liable 
for thousands of dollars in daily fines imposed by the builders of the 
Burma section, an international consortium which includes United States 
oil giant Unocal and French company Total.

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