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Airport residents threaten renewed rally if noise unabated
30/11/2007

BANGKOK, Nov 29 (TNA) - Residents surrounding Suvarnabhumi International Airport in areas affected by aircraft landing and takeoff noise pollution expressed dissatisfaction with the progress towards resolving the problem by means of the tripartite committee formed in September, a residents' leader said Thursday.

Prasert Boonkaew, a representative of noise pollution complainants to the committee said the panel has worked slowly and little progress had been seen.

The tripartite committee is comprised of representatives from the Transport Ministry, Airports of Thailand(AoT); the Lawyers Council of Thailand and local homeowners.

At the latest meeting on Wednesday, Suvarnabhumi airport director Serirat Prasutanond representing AoT claimed that he did not have authority to act on the requests of the residents.

As a result, committee chair Transport Ministry permanent secretary Chaisawat Kittipornpaiboon called another meeting on December 4 requiring the presence of AoT board members in order to make speedy decision, he said.

"(The process) shows that AoT is not sincere in solving the problems of the residents," Mr. Prasert said, adding that he will attend the Dec 4 meeting but if there is no progress he would terminate the residents' committee participation and actively resume retaliation against the public sector.

He also said that the residents agreed to organise a mass demonstration from December 8-10 to show the residents' disapproval of the government approach in dealing with their hardship.

December 10 was chosen because the day marks Constitution Day, commemorating the beginning of the constitutional monarchy in Thailand and the residents want to express their belief that although the country has a new constitution, it has failed to protect the basic rights of the people.

Each community may have the legal right to take any retaliation measures it chooses, but if any proposed actions may negatively impact Bangkok's airport services, notice will be given to the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand in advance, the residents' representative said.

The residents' core leaders also agreed to file civil lawsuits against every airlines flying into Suvarnabhumi International Airport, claiming that the airlines are abusing the civil rights of the local residents.

Some 350 representatives of homeowners earlier filed a case at the Central Administrative Court requesting the new international airport to cease operations as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has not been conducted. (TNA)-E003

 General News : Last Update : 18:34:14 29 November 2550 (GMT+7:00)

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