SEC forums ‘insensitive’
State agencies’ plan to hold public consultations about the controversial Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) in Songkhla’s Chana district this week deserve criticism, if not a certain amount of anger. The timetable of the forums, due to start on Thursday and last until May 20, was only made public yesterday. Without a doubt, it is too short notice for a scheme that is worth over 18 billion baht and will have an immense impact on so many local villagers — mostly Muslims who earn a living as small-scale fisherfolk or farmers — and the environment. The forums will be held at public offices in three tambons, namely Sakob, Natab and Taling Chan, with each session lasting half a day.
The Prayut Chan-o-cha government approved the scheme last Thursday, with the aim of connecting this particular part of Songkhla with three other provinces in the South where large-scale development projects are being planned. Conservationists as well as local residents are concerned that the vast scheme — which would see a deep-sea port and various industries established in the area — will destroy the marine resourcerich area, thereby undermining food security.
By law, such a gigantic scheme must undergo proper public consultation forums and pass an environmental impact assessment. Also, by law, any activities pertaining to any government scheme must be carried out with transparency and accountability.
But by timing the forums so hastily, those involved with the process — the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) in particular — appear to have little, if any respect for those principles. On the contrary, the rushed process creates the impression that the public forums are only a formality, just to make the scheme appear legitimate. Such dubious tactics are among the reasons why the public has lost trust in the process, if not the entire scheme.
Prior to the SEC, some agencies made a shameless attempt to promote coal-fired power plant projects in Songkhla’s Thepa district and in Krabi. The public participation process, tainted with a swath of irregularities, drew a public outcry so loud it forced the government to shelve the projects, before ordering the agencies concerned to hold fresh public forums.
It’s evident SBPAC chief Rear Adm Somkiat Polprayoon, who signed the announcement for the May 14-20 forums, did not learn from the previous mistake.
More importantly, it’s really disappointing to see that he failed to realise that it isn’t a good idea to hold halfday public consultation forums during the month of Ramadan when most Muslims are fasting. This shows a sheer lack of sensitivity.
Even if the SPBAC key man has little regard for the Islamic holy month, he, as a state officer, has a duty to follow the government’s instructions regarding Covid19, which encourage all Thais to stay home. Mass gatherings are prohibited. The state and the Chularatchamontri have even told Muslims to pray at home.
Rear Adm Somkiat owes the public as well as the government an explanation for the rush to hold the forums, in what seems to be a breach of government policy, which has remained unchanged since the state of emergency was announced in late March. There are reports that Chana villagers are planning to submit a complaint with the provincial governor today, asking that the forums be postponed or the scheme scrapped.
Songkhla governor Charuwat Kiangklao should step in and ensure that the SPBAC and no other agencies are allowed to violate government orders in the area under his jurisdiction. The SPBAC must at the very least get a slap on the wrist for its actions.