ABHISIT REASSURES FOREIGN INVESTORS STALLED PROJECTS WILL GO AHEAD

       Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday assured foreign investors that legal hurdles in the way of the industrial projects in Rayong's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate would soon be removed.

       A court injunction has led to the suspension of 76 projects and yesterday prompted the PTT Group and the Siam Cement Group to appeal the ruling.
       Thai Trade Representative Kiat Sittheeamorn said Abhisit told foreign investors there had been no change in environmental rules, but rather the public-hearing process had been amended and the rules on environmental-impact assessments (EIAs) and health-impact assessments strengthened.
       Kiat said the disputes were a result of the transition to the new Constitution and would have no effect on the approved projects.
       US Ambassador Eric John yesterday led members of the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce, which includes China and India, to a meeting with Abhisit. They will also be attending the upcoming Asean Summit in Hua Hin.
       After the meeting, John said the investors had discussed problems regarding Map Ta Phut.
       He said the US projects were prepared to comply with Thai laws and would not relocate.
       While praising Thailand for its "green business" initiatives, he was confident the government, the private sector and the general public would feel a mutual need to protect the environment, in order to pave the way for business development.
       Yesterday, the PTT Group filed an appeal with the Supreme Administrative Court against the Central Administrative Court's injunction on its 25 industrial projects in Map Ta Phut.
       In the appeal, PTT presented facts and impacts on the projects and insisted it had complied with government rules and regulations and proceeded in accordance with Article 67 of the Constitution.
       Prajya Phinyawat, chief operating officer for PTT's downstream petrochemical business, said the group had promoted health and environmental cooperation with the local community in Rayong. He said throughout the past 10 years, 3,000 workers at 11 plants had shown no unusual signs of health problems, especially not cancer. Moreover, all of the 25 industrial projects had passed EIAs and planned to install pollution-reduction equipment.
       Meanwhile, a group of Rayong residents submitted a petition to the National Anti-Corruption Commission requesting Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and other ministers be investigated for negligence following a go-ahead for the 76 suspended industrial projects.
       People of the East coordinator Suthi Atchasai said after the filing that the group also opposed the government's move to amend Article 51 of the Environment Act, because it did not provide independence to the independent environmental body.
       The Rayong residents are prepared to submit a petition to both the Senate and the Human Rights Committee asking them to check whether the amendment complies with the Constitution's Article 67, Suthi said.
       He added that his people might even seek justice from the Constitution Court.