THE NATION: Supatra hits out at Su

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Politics 

      Supatra hits out at Sulak
      over protest

      PM'S Office Minister Supatra Masdit
      yesterday slammed social critic Sulak
      Sivaraksa who is staging a solo protest
      against the Yadana gas pipeline at its
      construction site in Kanchanaburi. 

      A national committee reviewing the
      controversial project concluded last month
      that there were several problems
      surrounding the project but the panel was
      not against the construction of the pipeline. 

      The committee, chaired by former prime
      minister Anand Panyarachun, was set up
      with consent from environmentalists. Prime
      Minister Chuan Leekpai later decided that
      the project, owned by the Petroleum
      Authority of Thailand (PTT), would go
      ahead. 

      Supatra said environmentalists had
      promised that they would accept the prime
      minister's decision which was based on the
      findings of the panel and would move from
      the construction site. 

      Several activists have refused to stop
      campaigning against the project with Sulak
      staging a solo protest at the construction
      site. 

      ''Sulak's action indicates that he does not
      accept the ruling,'' Supatra said. 

      She dismissed environmentalists' attempt
      to disassociate themselves from Sulak.
      ''This is not true. In fact, they are from the
      same group,'' she said. 

      She said she and the prime minister would
      not negotiate with protesters. The
      responsibility she said now rests with the
      Interior Ministry and the PTT. She added
      that the PTT had filed a complaint with
      police against Sulak and other protesters. 

      Students Federation of Thailand members
      yesterday went to Kanchanaburi to stage a
      protest against the pipeline. 

      SFT secretary-general Chanakan
      Phanderm lashed out at local leaders and
      police and military officers, saying they did
      not have sympathy for people affected by
      the project. 

      The Nation