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BKK Post, February 27, 1998. Commen



February 27, 1998. Commentary

By  Wasant Techawongtham

Piping us info in all the wrong ways

The government-sponsored hearing to review details of the Thai-Burmese 
gas pipeline project has ended. The panel has submitted its report to 
the prime minister who is expected to make a decision on the matter in a 
day or two.

Project opponents have pledged to pull out from the lush forest in 
Kanchanaburi, where they have set up camp for more than a month to block 
the pipeline laying, once Chuan Leekpai announces his decision.

It is a foregone conclusion that the Petroleum Authority of Thailand 
will get a green light to proceed with the project to completion, thus 
giving it a victory in its long-running battle with the 
conservationists. Unfortunately, it will be a victory without grace.

In the past, the opponents accused the PTT of trying to influence public 
opinion by using unsavoury tactics, including purchasing air time to 
ridicule villagers complaining about the impact of the project or paying 
off local media to report in its favour. Some of the allegations were 
not without substance while others lacked proof.

Now, in one of its bungled public relations campaigns, the PTT has lent 
credence to these other charges.

On the last day of the hearing last week, the state oil company launched 
another media blitz in a vain attempt to flatter itself and condemn its 
opponents. A series of half-page "special reports" have appeared in some 
Thai-language newspapers, beginning with a report of an opinion poll 
which showed the majority of those surveyed favouring the completion of 
the pipeline project.

Readers can be excused for mistaking them as the papers' own reports 
because they are presented in a common news format and bylined "Special 
Correspondent" with no PTT logo. The word "advertisement", appearing in 
fine print in only some of the papers, is the only indication they are a 
paid message.

Actually, the poll results were widely reported, including in one 
newspaper considered a staunch critic of the project, so there was no 
need to push the point home and waste money in the process.

Other articles in the series verge on misinformation, if not outright 
lies. A couple of them project the PTT as an advocate of transparency, 
having agreed to various talks in which details of the project were 
revealed, including the just-ended hearing chaired by former prime 
minister Anand Panyarachun.

As it happens, this contradicts the conclusion of the Anand panel which 
depicts the PTT as being less than open.

The strange thing about this latest media campaign, however, is that the 
PTT's own public relations office plays no part in it. Songkiert 
Tansamrit was sheepish when asked about it. As the public relations 
chief, he admits the campaign "is not necessary" and is hurting the 
company's image.

While it was not his own work, he nevertheless feels responsible and 
says he will check into the matter to see what damage has been caused 
and who might be affected. Corrections would be made where mistakes are 
found.

He declined to identify the person or unit within the company who 
launched the campaign, but said there would be "consultation among all 
concerned offices" to ensure a similar gaffe did not occur.

Mr Songkiert has my sympathy. His job is difficult enough without help 
from his colleagues who have been heard complaining that public 
relations on the pipeline project has been inadequate. They obviously 
felt they could do a better job.

But Mr Songkiert should not be made to suffer the humiliation alone. 
PTT's top executives, including the governor, must share the blame for 
putting the company in an even worse light than it already is.

Wasant Techawongtham is Deputy News Editor for Environment and Urban 
Affairs, Bangkok Post. 

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