Pak Mool Residents Plan Bangkok Protest Over Dam

Residents from Pak Mool are preparing to march to Bangkok to demand government action on ecosystem restoration and year-round dam gate opening. Following the Pak Mool fish festival on August 8, 2568, villagers representing the Poor Assembly movement will present demands including compensation for dam impacts and expansion of the dam's operating period to align with fish migration seasons, beginning in April. A coordinator revealed that the dam's 36-year history shows minimal economic benefit from power generation, while opening gates in April alone generated nearly 300 million baht in tourism revenue at Kaeng Saphan rapids, suggesting year-round operation could create substantial economic value. Residents want government agencies to honor a cabinet resolution mandating assistance for Pak Mool residents through timely dam gate openings during fish spawning periods, with clearer implementation guidelines. Health Ministry data showing lower IQ levels among Ubon children may be linked to fish scarcity caused by the dam, the coordinator suggested. A Mahasarakham University scholar noted that even with gate openings, fish don't immediately return to dam-front areas, as fish migration spans approximately 11 months yearly while current management allows only 4 months of operation, disrupting natural reproduction cycles and biodiversity. The academic proposed dismantling the Pak Mool Dam, arguing that government, politicians, dam promoters, and the World Bank should have respected community rights and livelihoods from the outset.