ENVIRONMENT-THAILAND: River Diversion Plans For Whose Benefit?

By Kornpan Winwong - Newsmekong* BANGKOK, Aug 4 (IPS) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s plans to divert water from rivers from neighbouring Laos to help feed agricultural production faces stiff opposition from activists, who argue the ambitious projects could threaten the environment and local people’s lives. Since taking office on Feb. 6. this year, Samak has repeatedly stated that his People Power Party government intends to push ahead with the water diversion projects -- worth around 500 billion baht (14.97 billion US dollars) --and that they should be completed within the government’s four-year term. At least eight water diversion projects are planned, not including the Prime Minister’s ambitious scheme to divert water from the Mekong River to help farmers in the north-east. The Thai cabinet approved two of these... [read full story]