January 20, 2009
Bangkok (ASTV Manager Online) – The State Enterprise Employee Relations Confederation (SEERC) is afraid that Abhisit government will secretly privatize state enterprises, disagreeing to the privatization of Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA).
Savit Kaewwan, secretary-general of the SEERC, told ASTV that PWA had a policy to let private companies produce tap water and sell it to Hat Yai Waterworks Office.
PWA Labour Union earlier sent its letter to stop such project.
Savit emphasized all assets do not belong to the government, finance ministry or state enterprises. Rather, they belong to all people.
He viewed that it is the government’s duty to provide public utility services to its people since they already pay taxes.
Savit said PWA partly privatized itself by allowing private firms to join investments in 11 projects.
These projects are in Prathum Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Chachoengsao, Bangpakong, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkam, Phuket, Nakhon Prathom, Samut Sakhon, Koh Samui, Panasnikom, Ban Bueng, Pattaya and Rayong.
A conflict happened in Rayong 2-3 years ago when water was sent to industrial plants and estates. Households faced severe water shortage during that time.
Ex-premier Samak had an idea to get water from the Mekong River and use it for farming. However, water meters would be installed in farmlands, and farmers had to pay for their water usage.
Savit also dared Abhisit to cancel the State Enterprise Act, saying the act was against people’s benefits.
