Phiphat delays Land Bridge visit, awaiting study; Senator questions government's urgency

Matichon•Politics•19d ago

Reader Briefing

A Thai senator expresses skepticism over the government's rapid push for the "Land Bridge" project, citing its absence from policy statements and awaiting further study results.

•Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has postponed a site visit to the "Land Bridge" project pending a 90-day study by a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekanit Nitithanprapas.
•Senator Noraset Prachakorn voices concern that the "Land Bridge" project, despite its magnitude and potential impact, was not included in the government's policy declaration, yet is being aggressively promoted.
•The Senator believes public concerns regarding the project's environmental impact and its rapid advancement remain unaddressed.
•The government emphasizes the need for public understanding of both the benefits and drawbacks of the "Land Bridge" project.

Overview

•On May 5, Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced a postponement of a site visit to the "Land Bridge" project.
•Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekanit Nitithanprapas has been appointed to chair a committee to study the "Land Bridge" project for 90 days.
•Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn stated that answers regarding the project's benefits, risks, and impact on local livelihoods will be provided after the study.
•The "Land Bridge" project is described as distinct from the "Kra Isthmus Canal" project, utilizing road, rail, and pipeline systems instead of excavation.
•Senator Noraset Prachakorn questioned the urgency of the "Land Bridge" project, noting its absence from the government's policy statement.
•Senator Noraset Prachakorn decided to postpone a motion to debate the "Land Bridge" project in the Senate to allow for further data study.
•Senator Noraset Prachakorn expressed that public concerns about the "Land Bridge" project cannot be alleviated as it is a massive undertaking with significant potential impacts.
•The committee led by Ekanit Nitithanprapas is expected to complete its 90-day study on the "Land Bridge" project.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn

"Must await the study results from the committee led by Mr. Ekanit, which will conduct a 90-day study."

ต้องะรอผลการศึกษาจากคณะกรรมการชุดของนายเอกนิติ ที่จะดำเนินการศึกษาระยะเวลา 90 วัน ก่อน

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn

"Please wait for the study results. If I say anything now, it could be right or wrong. Please wait for the study results first."

ขอให้รอผลการศึกษา หากพูดอะไรไปตอนนี้ อาจจะถูกหรือผิดก็ได้ ขอให้รอผลศึกษาก่อน

Noraset Prachakorn

"Concerns cannot be definitively alleviated. Factually, the Land Bridge is a very large project with significant impacts."

ข้อกังวลยังคลายไม่ได้อย่างแน่นอน หากดูโดยพฤตินัยแลนด์บริดจ์เป็นโครงการขนาดใหญ่มากๆและมีผลกระทบเยอะมาก

Noraset Prachakorn

"It is strange that such a large policy is not in the government's policy statement, yet it is the first agenda the government confirms and fully pushes."

จึงเป็นเรื่องน่าแปลก ที่นโยบายขนาดใหญ่ขนาดนี้ ไม่ได้อยู่ในคำแถลงนโยบายของรัฐบาล แต่กลับเป็นวาระแรกที่รัฐบาลออกมายืนยันผลักดันเต็มที่

Key Entities

Person

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn(พิพัฒน์ รัชกิจประการ)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport who postponed a site visit for the 'Land Bridge' project.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

Prime Minister who assigned the 'Land Bridge' project study to Ekanit Nitithanprapas.

Ekanit Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, appointed to chair the 'Land Bridge' project study committee.

Noraset Prachakorn(นรเศรษฐ์ ปรัชญากร)

Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Political Development, Public Participation, Human Rights, Rights and Liberties, and Consumer Protection, who voiced concerns about the 'Land Bridge' project.

Place

Chumphon(ชุมพร)ℹ️

A province in Thailand, part of the area concerns for the 'Land Bridge' project.

Ranong(ระนอง)ℹ️

A province in Thailand, part of the area concerns for the 'Land Bridge' project.

Organization

Senate(วุฒิสภา)ℹ️

The upper house of the Thai Parliament where a motion regarding the 'Land Bridge' project was intended to be debated.

Committee on Political Development, Public Participation, Human Rights, Rights and Liberties, and Consumer Protection of the Senate(คณะกรรมาธิการ (กมธ.) พัฒนาการเมือง การมีส่วนร่วมของประชาชน สิทธิมนุษยชน สิทธิ เสรีภาพ และการคุ้มครองผู้บริโภค วุฒิสภา)

A Senate committee led by Noraset Prachakorn that is studying issues related to public participation and rights, and has an interest in the 'Land Bridge' project.