Residents threaten to occupy terminal

       People living near Suvarnabhumi airport are threatening to occupy the passenger terminal if the compensation they were promised by the Airports of Thailand does not arrive soon.
       Residents of the Rom Ruedee and Saranwong housing estates in Rom Klao yesterday tied balloons and hung banners outside their homes in protest at delays by the AoT to pay the compensation.
       Suvarnabhumi International Airport marks the third anniversary of its opening today.
       Wanchart Manathammasombat,50,who heads the Saranwong housing estate, said residents were renewing their calls for the AoT and the government to provide help after past efforts had failed to relieve their troubles.
       "We want the world to know that the AoT, which runs Suvarnabhumi airport,works without good governance," Mr Wanchart said.
       "Three years have passed, but it has helped less than 5% of the 15,000 affected families."
       Mr Wanchart said the AoT suspended paying compensation to residents after the Samut Prakan court ruled it did not have to compensate anyone who had sued it. The airport is in Samut Prakan province.
       "AoT chooses to use a ruling in its favour to avoid its social responsibility even though, according to an environ-mental impact assessment study, the AoT must compensate those living with NEF [noise exposure forecast] levels of over 40, and between 30 and 40, as many residents do," he said.
       Mr Wanchart also cited a cabinet resolution of May 29, 1997, which required the AoT to help residents. The Supreme Administrative Court backed the resolution. Residents are affected by aircraft noise, dust and fuel vapour.Many suffer from insomnia.
       Doctors from Chulalongkorn Hospital found that 80% of people in Rom Ruedee housing estate who live under the aircraft flight path, and noise contours of over 40 NEF, had developed hearing difficulties, Mr Wanchart said.
       Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban had promised to solve residents'problems within two months of taking office, but nine months had now passed.
       Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was the Asean chairman on human rights but was unable to protect the rights of people around the airport, he said.
       Residents wrote to the prime minister last month. If the government continued to ignore them, they would break into the passenger terminal.
       Pranee Chokloi, a 38-year-old resident, said her 11-year-old son now wore a hearing aid after developing hearing problems from exposure to aircraft noise.
       Amornret Moeinoratha,48, said she could not afford to move and now rented another house elsewhere for her parents,who suffered from hypertension and insomnia developed from living near the airport.