43 state enterprises join anti-PM rally; threaten electricity, water cuts

Reiterating that they would continue to provide moral support to the ongoing marathon rally against the coalition government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej in central Bangkok, leaders of 43 state-owned and operated enterprises on Tuesday pledged to adopt latest tactics by cutting
off electricity, water and allowing the public to travel at no cost on trains and buses.

In a move seen as greatly increasing political ‘temperature’ and pressure by directly challenging the four-month-old government, leaders of the 43 state enterprises said they would continue to cooperate with the anti-government rally organised by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and that they were prepared to adopt the PAD’s “civil disobedience” strategy.

The PAD has been demonstrating near the gates of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the UN’s regional headquarters, since May 25, demanding that Mr. Samak to leave his post.

Sathit Kaew-wan, secretary-general of the Confederation of State Enterprises Labour Union, said his organisation has decided to join the PAD rally, ready to implement its “civil disobedience” programme and that its members are awaiting an instruction of PAD core leaders.

The strategy, said Mr. Sathit, involves allowing people to travel on state-run trains and buses operated by Bangkok Mass Transit Authority at no cost and cutting off electricity supply to government agencies.

A deputy labour union chairman of the government-run Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) said the civil disobedience would start at the Interior Ministry because it has not paid electricity bills for several months. At present the ministry owes more than Bt13 million to the MEA.

The electricity authority wrote to the ministry on June 11, asking that it settle the bills quickly but there is no response so far.

Mr. Sathit said the union members would stop their work immediately if the government uses force in breaking up the PAD rally.

The government has failed to achieve its task of administering the country, especially in regard to solving the current rising cost of living, he said.

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