Court to rule on airport woes

Local residents are expected to show up at the courtroom in large numbers.

"We have prepared two buses for people who wish to go to the court," Wanchat Manathamsombat said yesterday, "We believe the court will have empathy for us".

Wanchat has led locals in submitting a complaint with the Administrative Court.

In the complaint, the locals called for the cancellation of a Cabinet resolution passed by the Surayud Chulanont-led government in 2007, saying the resolution failed to provide adequate remedial action for people suffering ill-effects from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

"Many locals have developed health problems, including respiratory and heart diseases. Some have already passed away," Wanchat said.

He added that several houses had sustained damage from items falling from aeroplanes, "including electric torches, rubber sheets, and fuel cans."

Wanchat said, "Whenever such incidents took place, the Airports of Thailand repaired the damage. But what if the items hit people, not properties?"

He said the National Human Rights Commission had earlier concluded clearly that locals have indeed suffered from the airport which has been in service since 2006.

Asked about the National Environment Board's resolution that a fund be established to help people affected by the airport, Wanchat said "No one has contacted us to talk about this."

Wanchat said locals supported the idea to establish the fund.

"Our condition is that our representatives should be allowed a say in the fund management. Without our representatives, the fund might be spent on wrong purposes," he said.