Revised Article:
Critics of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) measure prepare stands for potential protests
Protest Alert: Southern Economic Corridor and Land Bridge Megaproject Opponents Speak Out
Prepare for a showdown on July 1st, because opponents of the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) and the Land Bridge megaproject aren't mincing words. They're threatening to take to the streets if the government decides to push ahead with the plans.
Prasitchai Nunuan, the SEC Watch group's leader and activist, hinted at a blockade of the South's roads as a form of protest against the bill. On March 11th, the network submitted a petition opposing the bill to none other than Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
According to Mr. Prasitchai, the SEC bill, underway by the government, would amount to a "land grab" for foreign investors, effectively ceding control over the South and bestowing privileges upon foreign investors through legislation. He draws a parallel between the SEC bill and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) bill, which he claims resulted in local land expropriation.
The network believes that the bill, in its current form, would divert resources, budgets, and legal rights away from the South, impacting the region's limited land and water resources. "The people-led network," as Mr. Prasitchai put it, fears that the economic foundations of the South will be compromised by such policies.
Moreover, the bill allows foreign investors to own land and condominiums without restrictions, lease public land and real estate for 99 years, and bring in migrant workers unencumbered by immigration laws, according to Mr. Prasitchai. Without investment incentives in designated industrial zones, the network asserts there would be little investor interest in the Land Bridge project alone. They plan to send a letter to the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) in May, demanding revisions to the bill.
Meanwhile, the OTP, working under the Transport Ministry, is currently collecting public feedback. The bill is expected to reach the cabinet by May and parliament by July, preceding the Request for Proposal process in December.
Panya Chupanich, OTP's director, reported that most feedback from the South and Bangkok has been positive, though some concerns have surfaced. The Land Bridge project, slated to feature deep-sea ports in Chumphon and Ranong, interconnected by a 90-kilometer railway and motorway, is projected to open in 2030. The initial investment is estimated at 500 billion baht, with a total development cost of around 1 trillion baht[3].
The Land Bridge project holds immense economic potential, promising increased regional trade and facilitating quicker transportation of goods. However, local communities fear potential environmental harm, cultural disruption, and land grab concerns, as well as the lack of policies tailored to the unique cultural and environmental landscape of the South[4].
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates!
Insights from Enrichment Data
- Economy: The SEC and Land Bridge projects aim to boost regional trade and economic activity, attract investment, and stimulate infrastructure development.
- Environment and Land Use: Concerns have been raised about potential environmental impacts, land grabs, and insufficient attention to the unique cultural and environmental landscape of the South.
- Protests and Debates: The SEC bill has been the subject of controversy, with some calling for revisions and others rallying against the proposed legislation. Protests are planned for July 1, 2025.
- The SEC Watch group, led by Prasitchai Nunuan, has threatened a blockade of roads in the South as a form of protest against the SEC bill, claiming it could lead to expropriation of local land and would benefit foreign investors.
- The network opposing the SEC and Land Bridge megaprojects is concerned that the bill, if passed, would divert resources and legal rights away from the South, potentially compromising the region's economic foundations.
- Without restrictions, foreign investors could own land and condominiums, lease public land and real estate for 99 years, and bring in migrant workers under the current bill, according to Prasitchai Nunuan.
- As the bill progresses through policy-and-legislation, it is expected to reach the cabinet in May and Parliament in July, amidst general news coverage and ongoing debates about its potential impacts on economic development, environment, and land use in the South.
