To many, a news report that the government has decided to suspend the controversial Pak Bara port plans seems a welcome move. The plans threaten not only the well-being of communities but also the pristine environment in the southern province of Satun.
According to a source at the Ministry of Transport, a decision to shelve the plans was made at a recent meeting chaired by Deputy Transport Minister Pailin Chuchottaworn.
The minister was said to voice concern about the social and environmental impacts of the development.
Over the years, residents and environmental advocates have been up in arms against the project touted to put Thailand on par with Singapore as a shipping route, because they say the 9.74-billion-baht port project poses a threat to marine ecology and fishing stocks.
The port's construction would require land-filling and the expropriation of about 7,400 rai of land close to Ko Petra Marine National Park.
Apart from strong local opposition, state agencies are at odds with the Pak Bara development plans. The country, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, is planning to nominate marine national parks in the lower Andaman Sea with Unesco as world heritage sites.
Needless to say, the port construction could jeopardise its listing.
More importantly, the reported suspension appears consistent with a softening in stance by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha towards controversial infrastructure projects, especially in the South, including coal-fired power plants in Krabi and Songkhla's Thepa district. The latest example would appear to be the Pak Bara deep-sea port plans.
With regard to the proposed Pak Bara deep-sea port, the prime minister promised protesters that he would consider local opinions and take the environmental impact into account before going ahead with it.
If built, it would be located 4.5km off the coast of Satun, an ecologically rich area where tourists frequently visit.
The source told the Bangkok Post: "The meeting reached a conclusion to shelve the project because we cannot proceed with conducting an environmental impact assessment and public hearings as local villagers usually refuse to participate."
There are reports that Mr Pailin asked the Marine Department to study plans to develop sea ports in other areas, though the department insisted on the original designated site.
Though the suspension move is welcome, solid suspicions also arise. To begin with, the news was issued to the media by an unnamed "source," not through formal channels or an official announcement. In addition, it is possible the suspension move is aimed at boosting the flagging popularity of the regime that has nosedived recently over more than a few scandals, in particular the mysterious pricey watches of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. The matter was poorly handled by anti-graft agencies, causing public trust in the regime and the graft-busters to decline sharply. Last year's decision to purchase submarines worth 36 billion baht from China also met harsh public criticism.
And the regime has strong reasons to revive its popularity given Prime Minister Prayut's alleged political ambitions. It is almost certain that the prime minister -- who is also chief of the coup-making National Council for Peace and Order -- will seek to maintain his premiership after the general elections.
This may explain why the regime has resorted to a soft stance over the Pak Bara port, which follows the suspension of other controversial projects including coal-fired power plants in both Krabi and Songkhla. It's a sharp policy U-turn by the regime which previously cited the need for energy security for coal-fired facilities. Those opposing coal-fired power plants in Songkhla and Krabi were treated with heavy-handed measures, violent crackdowns and serious criminal charges.
But the regime must realise that it's wrong to make any decision for purely political reasons. Not to mention that in Thailand, "being shelved" is a synonym for buying time -- most controversial projects re-emerge after public attention fades. Of course, project supporters will demand a go-ahead for Pak Bara, citing national development needs, and several would argue the need for such infrastructure to promote the country's shipping sector. But they must respect the principle that any development must also take into consideration the environmental cost, and justice. It would be unfair if development always comes at the expense of local people.
The regime should talk to locals about development projects to ensure genuine public participation, not just for Pak Bara port but also other contentious projects. But before that step, the transport minister, or those higher up, must show sincerity by confirming the suspension report.