

	Press Releases / In the Media / Newsletters / Speeches / Events / Calendar / Non-English


	WCD in the Media [Media Items Contents]
Home


Related:

	Archive of WCD Press Releases

	Archive of WCD Media Coverage

Report may fuel another clash on Pak Mool dam

The Nation, Thailand - 24 November 2000

Report may fuel another clash on Pak Mool dam

ANOTHER confrontation between Pak Mool villagers and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) may be on the cards when the World Commission on Dams (WCD) presents its report today.

The WCD is to present the report on its comprehensive study of large dams worldwide and its guidelines for the future dam projects at Central Plaza Hotel. About 100 representatives of state agencies, non-governmental organisations, international organisations in Southeast Asia and senators will participate in the meeting.

The Pak Mool Dam is one of the WCD's case studies, so both Egat representatives and the villagers affected by the dam's construction will be present at the meeting.

"Not many of us will go because we are satisfied with the WCD's report and, most of all, we don't want a confrontation with Egat, which might not accept the report," said Paijit Silarak from the Assembly of the Poor, which is representing the affected villagers.

He added that the villagers would also report the attacks on them at the dam site last Sunday.

Paijit worried that Egat representatives would create chaos at the meeting.

The WCD report, released to the public in London last Thursday, states that large dams have had more negative effects on the environment, society and economy that positive effects.

The commission, which was established by industry, governments, NGOs and aid agencies, also found that people who were relocated due to the construction of large dams received inadequate compensation and had inferior lifestyles after being shifted.

The WCD plans to present its report to the public in several countries. After releasing it in London, it presented the report in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and will do so next in Japan after the report is released in Bangkok.

Home / Search / Site Map / Contact Us / Links