Grandma Hai wins B1.2m in damages

       Eighty-year-old grandmother Hai Khanjanta is being awarded 1.2 million baht in compensation after having fought for 30 years to reclaim her land after the construction of a dam.
       The cabinet has agreed to pay Mrs Hai, Sua Khamphan and Fong Khanjanta a combined 4.9 million baht for their opportunities lost during the dam construction.
       Mr Sua will receive 2.4 million baht and Mr Fong 1.3 million baht.
       Mrs Hai opposed the building of Huay Ra Ha dyke from the very start of the project in 1977. The dam, built to provide drinking water to Na Tan district of Ubon Ratchathani, flooded her farm at Ban Non Tan.
       She and other villagers had their land returned after former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra ordered the demolition of the dam in 2004. However, no compensation was paid to affected residents to rehabilitate their paddy fields.
       Yesterday's cabinet approval for the financial compensation did not come easily.
       PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said some state agencies argued that the payments would set a precedent for other groups to claim compensation.
       "Some state agencies said this case would set a precedent for other affected groups [to claim compensation from the state]," Mr Sathit said."But we don't think so because there will be no other dams that will be ordered demolished by the state."
       Mrs Hai praised the Democrat-led government for paying attention to the plight of the poor.
       She was glad the government had addressed the problems raised by the Assembly of the Poor.
       The woman, who joined the assembly to fight for her land, said past governments had ignored the problems of rural poor.
       Asked whether the amount was enough for her family, she said it was not huge as she had fought for 32 years to receive justice.
       But she insisted she would not make further demands.
       She said she would give the money to her children.