The Network of Eastern Residents yesterday urged the Senate to intervene and get the government to review its declaration that there were just 11 industrial activities that could have serious impacts on public health and environment.
"The Senate should recommend that the government make adjustments," the network's coordinator Sutti Atchasai said. He was accompanied by more than 30 residents of the heavily polluted Map Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong. This network has been battling against polluting businesses that have an adverse impact on people living in industrial zones.
Sutti also urged the Senate to look into whether the government's decision was in line with the Constitutionprescribed protection of public health and environment, and called on it to help solve pollution problems in the Map Ta Phut.
The network leader also submitted petitions to the Senate committees on natural resources and environment; on human rights, rights, liberties and consumer protection; on corruption and goodgovernance promotion; on commerce and industry; as well as the one on public health.
Senator Rosana Tositrakul, who chairs the Senate committee on corruption and goodgovernance promotion, promised to look into the rationale the government used to name just 11 activities that would have a serious impact on people's lives.
"Does the government just want to remove the deadlock for giant industrial operators?" she questioned.
The government made the list according to the recommendations of the National Environment Board (NEB), which were different from the list put forward by former PM Anand Panyarachun's fourparty panel. Tasked with solving the Map Ta Phut crisis, the committee suggested that 18 industrial activities be declared as posing serious threats to health and environment.
Senator Surachai Liangboonlertchai, who chairs the Senate committee on natural resources and environment, said yesterday that the government and NEB should have taken into consideration the fact that the Map Ta Phut area has already been declared a pollutioncontrol zone.
Sutti and Map Ta Phut residents yesterday also went to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), where they were invited to provide more information on the Map Ta Phut problems in response to complaints filed by them earlier.
NHRC commissioner Dr Niran Pitakwatchara said the commission would hold a meeting on the issue today. "After that, we will inspect the area and look for solutions. Pollution has posed a problem in the area for more than 30 years already," he said.
Niran said the commission would also question the government on why it had only named 11 industrial activities and not 18 as being harmful.