[Imc-newsroom] Human Rights violations re Thailand dam

[Danielle Chynoweth]

This is from Joe who worked with protestors of a dam project in Thailand.
Sounds like things have heated up.  I'd like to get him on the air in the
next 2-3 weeks.  We can talk more Sunday.

danielle

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 13:23:42 -0500
From: Joe Rupp <jrupp at students.uiuc.edu>

Sorry I missed your speach today.  I actually wasn't able to make it because
I've been flooded with emails today from Thailand, regarding the dam
protestors with which I worked and lived.  Things are not looking good for
them.  One of the local universities in Thailand has just concluded a
year-long study, funded by the national government, that is very critical of
the dam and proposes what I see as logical and acceptable solutions.  The
government, however, is turning a deaf ear to the study that it sponsored, and
will most likely vote to operate the dam year-round and permanently.  Protests
on a scale not seen in more than a year have ensued and rampant human right
violations have been reported (though not verified).

I know that you spoke with me about possibly getting me on the radio.  When
can you do it?  The sooner the better, I'm ready to tell this story.  I'm
going to send out a report to the IMC listserve and maybe try to organize a
letter-writing campaign in town, just a template that someones puts their name
on.

Anyway, get me on the air, please!!  Sorry about the wildness of this email,
but I'm pretty furious.

Regards,
Joe Rupp