Parties ignore local issues, says activist

General News - Sunday December 23, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Parties ignore local issues, says activist

Groups planning to rally over pollution

By Anucha Charoenpo

Political parties contesting the election in the eastern province of Rayong have no environmental platforms to deal with the pollution and the excessive growth of industries there, said a coordinator of the Eastern Community Network. Sutthi Atchasai said since the election campaign started almost two months ago, he has never seen or heard of any party having an environment policy for Rayong.

''Pollution has been increasing in Rayong for many years because there has been excessive growth in industries in the Eastern Seaboard. The Industrial Estate and the Ministry of Industry also do not cooperate in controlling the expansion of the industries,'' said Mr Sutthi.

As a result, a lot of people face a greater risk of becoming sick from many diseases, especially cancer caused by the polluted air, water and food, if no proper measures and policies are introduced. He said up to 324 Rayong residents living near the industrial zone have been found to have toxic substances in their urine.

In charge of environmental issues and people's health protection, Mr Sutthi has been working closely with 16 environmental groups in the eastern region to help educate residents living around the Eastern Seaboard at Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate about the polluted environment.

The aim is to teach them how to take care of themselves in the polluted environment, such as wearing nose masks while being out in the open.

He said in March next year he and 16 environmental group leaders will lead a rally in the province and propose a people's agenda to deal with the pollution and the excessive growth of industries in the Eastern Seaboard to the new government.

He said the networks want to hear if the new government has solutions to environmental problems in the province, which could be in the form of new environmental laws or amendments to existing ones.

''Any future development of industries in Rayong should be made in line with His Majesty the King's self-sufficiency principle, the potential of the province and the people's needs,'' he said.

Past developments had never paid attention to these factors, causing a lot of environment and health problems in Rayong.

Mr Sutthi called on the new government which takes power after the election to quickly establish a political development council under the new constitution to enable grassroots people to participate in the decision-making process and put their problems to the government directly.

Bangkok Post