Civic groups, spearheaded by EEC Watch, have vowed to resist the scheme for fear of adverse impacts on health and the environment. That is, however, the main public concern that the top EEC man fails to recognise. The activists and academics are right in pointing out that the use of such a controversial law in scrapping the town planning process for the three provinces means the state is able to bypass public participation -- a principle that is guaranteed by the new constitution -- in the town planning process. It is true the provisional clause in the new constitution which has now taken effect allows the military regime to maintain its draconian power, and the use of Section 44 is not entirely illegal. When it comes to the question of legitimacy, the military regime should be aware of a domino effect.

Source: Bangkok Post November 01, 2017 21:33 UTC