BANGKOK, Feb 23 — Thailand's deputy government spokesman expects a joint committee to be formed this week to discuss pros and cons of petroleum concessions.
Deputy government spokesman Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that the line-up of the joint committee should take shape within this week and Prime Minister's Office Minister Panadda Diskul was inviting concerned people to sit in the panel.
He expects about 10-15 representatives of the Energy Ministry, opponents to new petroleum concessions, academics and legal experts to be in the committee.
"The prime minister hopes that the committee will find a way out of the issue. Who will be its chairman is not important because the chairman will not have any decision-making power. Everything that will happen in the committee will be a common stance and it will be proposed for the prime minister to decide before March 16. The prime minister does not want to make a decision without listening to opinions," Gen Sansern said.
He also said that the government would base its decision on the national interest and its factors would include the time frames, energy security, investors' confidence and investment worthiness.
Gen Sansern stressed that the decision was the authority of the government which was open to opinions but he cautioned that the government would not tolerate any demonstration on the issue. (MCOT online news)
