Organization: Central Michigan University
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Fri, 18 Dec 1992 08:47:26 EST
From:         Elliott Parker <3ZLUFUR@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Subject:      TH: Govt reviewing Supreme Command HQ

=======================  Forwarded  Message  ===========================
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 92 01:01:57+0700
From: Kamol Hengkietisak <kamol@ipied.tu.ac.th>
Subject: Bangkok Post Dec 18: Chuan considers axing controversial construction


PRIME Minister Chuan Leekpai has told reporters that the Government
will review the new Supreme Command headquarters project, which the
Opposition has criticised because of its proximity to the Royal Plaza.

Senior military officers said it is up to the Government to decide the
fate of the 900-million-baht building, which came under heavy
criticism by the Opposition during the debate of the Budget Bill on
Wednesday.

Prime Minister Chuan said that construction of the building is
underway and the Government will need to re-negotiate with the
contractor, the Benjamas Company, if it suspends the project.

Deputy Army Chief Gen Salya Sripen denied that the company is owned by
Army officers who are graduates of Chulachomklao Military Academy's
Class 5.

"If Class 5 members are shareholders in the firm, I should be rich,"
said Gen Salya, who is himself a Class 5 graduate.

He said he did not know which company is building the new
headquarters.

Deputy Defence Minister Maj-Gen Sombat Rodpothong said the Supreme
Command will not object if the construction is called off by the
Government.

During Wednesday's debate in Parliament, former supreme commander Gen
Arthit Kamlang-ek, strongly criticised the project. The Loei MP, who
is Chart Pattana Party's advisory chairman, said the new headquarters
would tower over the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall (the old Parliament)
and the equestrian statue of King Rama V.

Maj-Gen Sombat said the Office of the Royal Household had already
complained about this problem.

He said armed forces Chief-of-Staff Gen Visith Artkhumwong has
suggested that the building be lowered from 32.5 metres to 20 metres.
It has also been suggested that the headquarters be built on another
site.

"The Government has already spent over 200 million baht on the
building's foundation work, so it will have to decide if it can afford
to lose the money and look for a new building site," Maj-Gen Sombat
said.

The Supreme Command would have no objection if the project is called
off, he said.

The contractor has suspended construction for about a month, waiting
for a decision on the matter by the Government, Defence Ministry and
Supreme Command, he said.

Deputy Finance Minister Trairong Suwankhiri said he agreed with Gen
Arthit that the Royal Plaza should be kept as it is, he said.

"In ten years, when the population is 60-70 million we will need the
space for big ceremonies," Mr Trairong said.

Mr Chuan also disagreed during the debate with the construction of the
headquarters near Royal Plaza.

Supreme Commander ACM Voranart Apicharee, who returned from a Thai-Lao
Border Committee meeting in Laos yesterday, said he has no objection
to the Government stopping the construction, but the Government must
find a new place for the headquarters.

He said there would be no problem if the construction is stopped
because the contractor had already been paid for the part which has
been built.

The Supreme Command's new headquarters violates the Building Control
Law, said Bangkok Governor Krisda Arunvongse na Ayutthaya.

He said the building code forbids buildings that have more than four
storeys within the Rattanakosin Island area, which includes the plaza.

But the law is not the same for government agencies and the private
sector, he said.

Interior Ministry regulations exempt government agencies and embassies
from having to ask for building construction permits from the Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration, he added.

They must only inform the BMA about their construction projects and
submit blueprints. The BMA has no authority to allow or halt
construction, he said.

If the project violates the building code, the law allows only the
Cabinet to grant or deny permission, said the governor.

The army had neither informed the BMA about the new headquarters nor
had it submitted blueprints, he said, adding that this may have been
necessary for security reasons.

But even if the law is amended, said Mr Krisda, it will not be
retroactive and will not affect the headquarters.

Regarding accusations that a BMA official had been bribed to approve a
construction project, the governor said deputy governor Karun
Chandaransu will look into the charge.

Muan Chon Party leader Chalerm Yubamrung during Wednesday's debate had
accused the Budget Bureau Director of giving 1.5 million baht to the
unnamed official for a construction project.

He insisted that the Palang Dharma Party honour its pledge to fight
corruption by investigating the charge.

An investigation committee will be set up later if enough evidence is
found by the deputy's probe, he added.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU