Thailand’s northeastern activists held a symbolic activity to condemn junta’s plan to grant petroleum concessions in the region to business interests while pointing out that the Thai junta’s promise to return happiness to the nation is a lie.
Several activists from Neo E-saan Movement, an environmental protection group in Isan, Thailand’s Northeast, on Thursday attached logos of Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT), Apico Company Limited, a US-based oil and gas exploration company, Tatex Thailand, a concessionaire and operator of Thai Oil and Gas Exploration Concession in Isan, and HESS, a major US-based petroleum company, on the monument of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, a former Thai dictator (1957-1963), in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen.
Neo E-saan activists read out the group's statement against the junta on 21 May 2015 in front of the monument of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, a former dictator, in Khon Kaen.
The group also attached a message reads ‘Petroleum Dictator’ under the monument before reading the group’s statement in front of the monument a day before an anniversary of the 2014 coup d’état.
According to the group, under the disguise of national reform, the Thai junta is using its authority under the martial law and the Interim Charter to evict people off protected areas and coming up with policies to manipulate and selling off natural resources to corporations.
The statement pointed out that the junta is using its authorities to give out mine and petroleum concessions to business interest groups and to implement plans to monopolise water resource management via dam projects in Isan region.
Currently, the junta is using its power to push for the policy to open up 17 potential oil fields in Isan, stated the group, pointing out to how the Thai military officers assisted a petroleum company to transport drilling equipments despite the villagers opposition in Khon Kaen in February as an example.
Neo E-saan activists hold a banner says ‘Petroleum Dictator’ with logos of the petroleum companies at one of the train stations in Khon Kaen on 21 May 2015.
In addition, the statement alleged that the junta’s petroleum policy is meant to serve business interest groups some of which, such as PTT, contain shares of military officers and others high ranking state officials.
On the same day, the group members also a banner says ‘Petroleum Dictator’ with logos of the petroleum companies at one of the train stations in Khon Kaen.