Supporters of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) co-leader Sondhi Limthongkul occupy the street outside the metropolitan police headquarters in Bangkok July 24. Thai media firebrand Sondhi, leader of an anti-government street campaign, surrendered to police on Thursday to answer accusations of insulting King Bhumibol Adulyadej. (Photo: Reuters)Irrawaddy
By SAI SILP
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thousands of anti-government protesters marched to the nation’s largest energy company headquarters in Bangkok on Friday to protest what it claims is mismanagement and improper political influence.
Members of the People Alliance for Democracy gathered in front of PTT Plc’s headquarters on Vipavadhi Rangsit Road on Friday, demanding the company be returned to its former state-run status. It was privatized in 2001.
Sondhi Limthongkul, the leader of PAD, claimed the company’s executives have mismanaged the business and through political influences have caused fuel prices in country to be higher than they should be.
He claimed that the privatization of PTT involved corruption during the administration of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the company has reaped high profits while paying comparatively small taxes.
“This matter could be considered as stealing people's money for the benefit of the stake holders of PTT,” he said, according to a report in The Bangkok Post on Friday.
More than 300 metropolitan police closed off traffic and patrolled the area of the demonstration to prevent a possible clash between anti and pro-government groups.
On Thursday, hundreds of pro-government activists attacked an anti-government rally with axes and sticks in the northeastern provinces of Udorn Thani and Burirum, injuring at least 20 protesters.
It was the worst violence in the long-running conflict between supporters of the ruling People's Power Party, aligned with ousted Prime Minister Shinawatra, and members of the anti-government PAD.
The PAD has organized marathon demonstrations for more than two months against government plans to amend the constitution and has attacked the government for its handling of the Preah Vihear temple dispute with Cambodia.
PAD alleges that the Cabinet violated the constitution by authorizing former Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama to sign a joint statement with Cambodia in support of the listing of the temple complex as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
PTT Plc is a regional giant energy firm which also has a big stake in energy resource projects in neighboring countries, include Burma. PTTEP, a subsidiary of PTT Plc, owns a 19.3 percent of the Yetagun gas field in Burma. Petronas, in Malaysia, has a 40.9 percent stake. Other shareholders include Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise and Nippon Oil Exploration.
In 2007, various consumer rights groups that instigated a legal case against PTT said the public missed out on benefits from the privatization of the company due to an unfair share allocation system and that the shares were sold too cheaply.
In December 2007, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the privatization of PTT Plc was lawful.
By SAI SILP
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thousands of anti-government protesters marched to the nation’s largest energy company headquarters in Bangkok on Friday to protest what it claims is mismanagement and improper political influence.
Members of the People Alliance for Democracy gathered in front of PTT Plc’s headquarters on Vipavadhi Rangsit Road on Friday, demanding the company be returned to its former state-run status. It was privatized in 2001.
Sondhi Limthongkul, the leader of PAD, claimed the company’s executives have mismanaged the business and through political influences have caused fuel prices in country to be higher than they should be.
He claimed that the privatization of PTT involved corruption during the administration of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the company has reaped high profits while paying comparatively small taxes.
“This matter could be considered as stealing people's money for the benefit of the stake holders of PTT,” he said, according to a report in The Bangkok Post on Friday.
More than 300 metropolitan police closed off traffic and patrolled the area of the demonstration to prevent a possible clash between anti and pro-government groups.
On Thursday, hundreds of pro-government activists attacked an anti-government rally with axes and sticks in the northeastern provinces of Udorn Thani and Burirum, injuring at least 20 protesters.
It was the worst violence in the long-running conflict between supporters of the ruling People's Power Party, aligned with ousted Prime Minister Shinawatra, and members of the anti-government PAD.
The PAD has organized marathon demonstrations for more than two months against government plans to amend the constitution and has attacked the government for its handling of the Preah Vihear temple dispute with Cambodia.
PAD alleges that the Cabinet violated the constitution by authorizing former Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama to sign a joint statement with Cambodia in support of the listing of the temple complex as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
PTT Plc is a regional giant energy firm which also has a big stake in energy resource projects in neighboring countries, include Burma. PTTEP, a subsidiary of PTT Plc, owns a 19.3 percent of the Yetagun gas field in Burma. Petronas, in Malaysia, has a 40.9 percent stake. Other shareholders include Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise and Nippon Oil Exploration.
In 2007, various consumer rights groups that instigated a legal case against PTT said the public missed out on benefits from the privatization of the company due to an unfair share allocation system and that the shares were sold too cheaply.
In December 2007, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the privatization of PTT Plc was lawful.
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