Koh Chang development: Irregularities alleged
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Mar 29, 2002
Senate panel to quiz government next week over its plan to turn the island
into a resort for wealthy tourists
A Senate committee yesterday threatened to grill the government over alleged
irregularities in the development of Koh Chang as a major tourism spot.
A panellist also threatened to name prime ministerial aides who allegedly
acquired land there.
The Senate committee on tourism made the threat after a hearing at which a
representative from the National Economic and Social Development Board
explained how the Bt6.2-billion fund to promote tourism would be spent.
Board representative Panithan Yamwinij told the Senate panel the Koh Chang
project was different from other tourism projects, which were proposed by
local officials. Panithan said the island's development had been proposed by
the national government.
The government has unveiled a plan to develop the public island as a resort
for well-heeled foreign tourists in a bid to earn hard currency.
Panithan said the development of Koh Chang would utilise money from the
Bt58-billion economic stimulus fund, not the Bt6.2-billion tourism fund.
Nakhon Sawan Senator Prasit Pithoonkijja - deputy chairman of the Senate
committee - said he had learnt from residents of the island that certain
close aides of the prime minister had acquired land on Koh Chang at the rate
of Bt200,000 per rai.
"Now, the land prices will go up to Bt3-5 million a rai, and even to Bt10
million a rai after development," Prasit said.
"Koh Chang is already well known among foreign tourists so I don't
understand why it would need the money for development."
Prasit said he would reveal the names of the aides when the Senate debates
the government's performance next Friday. He would also propose for the
Senate to open a general debate against a minister in charge of tourism,
related to the Koh Chang issue.
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