HOPEFULS TO TACKLE SLUMS, DRUGS

Policies Include Improving Life For Slum Dwellers, And Ridding Communities
Of Drugs

Six candidates are trying to make their way into City Hall with similar
policies to appease slum dwellers and fight drug abuse in their communities.

They have highlighted policies which include not evicting slum residents
from land they have long occupied, setting up a slum development fund, and
promised serious efforts against drugs.

Col Prachak Sawangchit, a candidate in the Bangkok governor election, poses
with members of the gay community when he went ot campaign at Centre Point
in Siam Square yesterday. Col Prachak said the public could remove him from
office if he did not clear up the drug problem within towo years. - Somchai
Poomlard The six are: Sudarat Keyuraphan of Thai Rak Thai, Pavena
Hongsakula of Chart Pattana, Thavatchai Sajakul of the Democrats, and
independent hopefuls Col Vinai Somphong, Col Prachak Sawangchit and
Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich.

They announced their slum policies during a television programme, iTV
Sanjorn, in front of about 1,000 Khlong Toey residents.

Most questions put to community leaders dealt with two topics: the Port
Authority of Thailand's plan to relocate Khlong Toey residents to a new
community in Sai Mai district, which is a long way from downtown, and drug
abuse.

All the candidates' answers seemed to satisfy them.

The six vowed to allow them to stay on, or to find appropriate places for
them to live in case of relocation, to improve their living conditions, and
make serious efforts to solve drug problems.

Mrs Sudarat said no slum dwellers living on city-owned land would be
evicted from their homes. In the case of slums located on land owned by
other agencies, she would try her best to convince the owners to permit the
residents to stay on.

She would argue they needed to live and work in the downtown area.

Khunying Kalaya said she would improve conditions by allowing slum dwellers
to stay on, or facilitating relocations on a voluntary basis if necessary,
and push for setting up a slum development fund to be managed by residents.

She promised to ask the Port Authority, the State Railway of Thailand and
the Treasury Department not to move squatters off their land.

The Government Housing Authority would be asked to help with construction
of new homes for slum dwellers on allocated land, she said. Mrs Pavena said
a committee representing slum residents would be allowed to participate in
the management of each community.

The city under her supervision would consider leasing land in Khlong Toey
from the Port Authority and build new houses for poor residents.

Col Vinai promised not evict anyone and to set up a slum development fund
with a 500-million-baht annual budget from the city for four consecutive years.

If other agencies made attempts to evict people, the city would step in and
ask that adequate infrastructure be provided at the new locations.

A panel representing the city, slum communities and agency representatives
would be set up and allowed a part in city management.

Mr Thavatchai also said he would not condone evictions and would ask the
Government Housing Authority to help build flats for residents on land
owned by the port.

Col Prachak, who claimed to be a revolutionary, also said he would not let
anyone expel slum residents from their homes. In the event of relocation,
residents would be moved to city-owned land no more than 5km from their old
homes. A one-billion-baht mortgage fund would be set up to assist them.

The candidates were asked how they would go about solving the drug problem
and where the money would come from.

Khunying Kalaya said each community should have a centre to tackle drug
problems.

She would ensure funding for anti-drug activities, build small sports parks
for youngsters and educate parents on helping their children with drug
rehabilitation.

Col Vinai promised to focus on the importance of the family institution,
build small parks and football fields near all communities and set up a
radio station as a forum for youngsters to express their views and campaign
against drugs.

Mr Thavatchai said he would co-operate with all communities and police to
suppress local drug dealers and focus on organising of anti-drug exhibitions.

Col Prachak promised to set up an anti-drug centre in Bangkok to be managed
by police, public prosecutors, judiciary officials, soldiers and civilians.
He would push for promulgation of a new law differentiating between drug
addicts and drug dealers, so that users were offered medical treatment and
pushers severely punished.