PUBLISHED: 27 Apr 2025 at 07: 13
If the government implements the plan, opponents of the Southern Economic Corridor ( SEC ) and the Land Bridge megaproject, which connects the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, will stage a protest on July 1.
One of 94 anti-SEC organizations, Prasitchai Nunuan, an activist and president of the network, announced a siege of the South’s roads to counteract the bill.
On March 11, the channel wrote to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra a plea opposing the bill.
According to Mr. Prasitchai, the government is currently working on a bill that would “allow a acquisition of the South and give permissions to foreign shareholders by enacting it.”
He compared the SEC bill to the Eastern Economic Corridor ( EEC ) bill, which led to the expropriation of local land.
Without doing a thorough analysis of the South’s environment, the SEC expenses is a duplicate of the EEC expenses. The people-led network believes that the South’s financial foundations, specifically its limited land and water resources, may be seriously impacted by devoting resources, budgets, and constitutional rights to foreign investors, Mr. Prasitchai said.
He added that the costs would also make it possible for urban planning to be quickly altered, which could impair crops and commerce, two vital economic sectors in the south.
According to Mr. Prasitchai, foreign investors would not be subject to the immigration rules, but instead would be able to own property and apartments without the usual limitations, lease public land and real estate for 99 decades, and employ migrant workers.
He claimed that the Land Bridge project would not have any investment interest if there were no investment permissions in designated business areas. The network intends to write a letter to the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning ( OTP ) in May, he said, requesting changes be made to the law.
The OTP, which is in charge of the SEC bill’s draft, is now gathering open input. Prior to the Request for Proposal method scheduled for December, the measure is anticipated to pass the cupboard by May and parliament by July.
Most common comments from the South and Bangkok, according to Panya Chupanich, chairman of the OTP, has been positive, despite some concerns that have been raised.
The Land Bridge initiative, which is connected by a 90-kilometer rail and road, is scheduled to open in 2030. It includes deep-sea ships in Chumphon and Ranong.
The primary investment is thought to be 500 billion, with estimated 1 trillion-baht development fees being anticipated. The government intends to permit endless international cooperation due to the size of the purchase required.
Prasitchai: South averse to the schedule