Consumer groups vow to nail those responsible

General News - Saturday December 15, 2007

Consumer groups vow to nail those responsible

APINYA WIPATAYOTIN

After earning half a victory from the Supreme Administrative Court's verdict ordering PTT Plc to return some of its assets to the state, consumer rights groups have vowed to fight on by filing civil and criminal lawsuits against those involved in the privatisation process.

"Some people must be made to accept responsibility [for the loss to the public resulting from the privatisation of PTT]," said Rosana Tositrakul of the Federation of Consumer Organisations, one of the plaintiffs in the PTT case.

"[The verdict] is the first step in the recovery of our national assets," the leading activist said after hearing the verdict yesterday.

She said the court's ruling ordering PTT Plc to return the natural gas and oil pipelines and land that is owned by the public to the state meant damage did occur to a certain extent.

Ms Rosana said the groups would file civil and criminal lawsuits to bring those involved in the privatisation process to justice.

She noted that PTT's IPO price of 35 baht per share was very low and that could have caused a huge financial loss to the state.

As many as 50 activists gathered on the premises of the Supreme Administrative Court yesterday morning, waiting to hear the announcement of the judgement, which was broadcast live on television.

The atmosphere was similar to the March 23, 2006, verdict when the same court annulled the Egat privatisation, inspiring the activist groups to take PTT to court on similar grounds.

However, this time the activists did not have a complete victory to celebrate as they did in the Egat case because the court turned down their petition to have the privatisation of PTT annulled.

Saree Ongsomwang, secretary-general of the Foundation for Consumers, yesterday urged Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand to step down to show his responsibility.

She also called on relevant agencies to bring all those involved in the privatisation of PTT to justice, as well as seeking compensation from the company.

"Since PTT has made a hefty profit over the last five years, it should pay some compensation to the state," Ms Saree said.

Nitithorn Lamluea, a lawyer representing the consumer groups, said their next move would focus on an investigation into the IPO calculation and distribution process to see whether it was fairly handled.

"We need to prove there was something wrong with the process, if we want to see PTT returned to the state," said the lawyer, who has already tasted victory in the Egat privatisation case.

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