Kaeng Sua Ten Dam Project Rears Its Grisly Head (Again!)

Two years ago, then Thai Prime Minister, Samak, took the opportunity offered by World Environment Day to lambast non-government organisations that were objecting to the controversial Kaeng Sua Ten dam project on the grounds that it would destroy a teak forest and engulf the land of local residents.

Samak declared that there were less than 50,000 golden teak trees left. He went on to refute claims that endangered species would be affected because there weren’t any – “only three stupid peacocks”.

This insightful and sensitively worded speech not only confirmed his already well-established reputation as an ill-informed buffoon but also prompted the villagers of Ban Sa-iad in Song Province to stage a ritual invoking curses and demons before burning Samak in effigy. The human rights and environmental NGOs didn’t go quite as far but they did suggest that he actually visit the province and count the teak trees. He didn’t. But after huge public outcry, the dam project proposal, which has been off and on for over two decades (mostly off), was shelved again.

Last week it reappeared.      

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan is reportedly planning to urge cabinet to revive the damn plan.

The timing of this decision is almost as bad as the plan.

Following the recent Red Shirt upheavals, support for the government in northern rural areas is on a par with American popular support for Nixon after Watergate.

Displacing villagers, flooding their land (and an ecologically important forest), is unlikely to win hearts, minds, let alone votes.

Hugh Paxton’s Blog suggests putting the Kaeng Sua Ten scheme, not back onto the shelf, but into the dustbin. That’s where it really belongs.

Tags: Dams, displacing villagers, dumb ideas, ecological destruction, Hugh Paxton, Kaeng Sua Ten, stupid political speeches, Thailand