May 7, 2000

Mr. Dej Poomkacha
NGO Coordinating Committee on Development
People’s Forum

Dear Khun Dej:

Thank you for your invitation to ADB to attend the People’s Forum 2000. I appreciate the final statement of the People’s Forum that you presented to me. I also wish to thank you for allowing me to present President Chino’s letter to the People’s Forum.

I have presented the People’s Forum statement to President Chino and briefed him on our discussions. President Chino is concerned with the issues raised in the People’s Forum.

President Chino has instructed ADB senior staff to review the issues raised by the People’s Forum and prepare a detailed briefing for him. I hope you understand that President Chino cannot provide a complete response until we return to Manila as the information required for a complete analysis is not available here in Chiang Mai. Meantime, we have attached information sheets on selected ADB projects in Thailand and Lao PDR for your consideration.

On behalf of President Chino, I received a letter yesterday from the Network of 38 People’s Organizations regarding ADB’s operations in Thailand. I shared this letter to President Chino. President Chino has instructed that the issues raised in this letter be addressed by staff soonest. You may be aware that the Network of 38 People’s Organizations demanded that the issues raised in their letter be placed on the agenda of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors. At this late stage, however, it is impossible to alter the agenda of the Annual Meeting. Please be assured the issues raised in the letter will be given our full attention upon our return to Manila and a response will be prepared accordingly.

Please note the letter from the Network of 38 People’s Organizations did not include an address and we are uncertain how to contact them. We would be grateful for your assistance in sharing this response with the Network, and in helping us find contact information for the Network.

I assure you that the names and contact information for key ADB staff responsible for directly addressing your concerns will be provided to you by 15 May 2000. These people will be instructed to provide written responses and detailed information by 30 May 2000 and will meet with representatives of affected people in June. We would appreciate your assistance in organizing these consultations.

Again, on behalf of the ADB and President Chino, I would like to thank you for your strong interest in ADB operations and to emphasize that ADB is committed to constructive dialogue with NGOs and civil society. ADB considers the interests of people to be at the core of its operations and wishes to use every opportunity possible to establish and maintain stakeholder participation.

Sincerely yours,

Myoung-Ho Shin

Vice President (West)

Follow up letter from Vice President Shin

Mr. Dej Poomkacha
Chairman
NGO Coordinating Committee on Development (NGO-COD)
Thailand

Dear Khun Dej,

In my letter to you dated 7 May 2000 [above] and also to Khun Weerapol dated 8 May  2000, I had, on behalf of President Chino, given an interim reply to your letters. In these letters we assured you that the names and contact information for key ADB staff responsible for directly addressing your concerns would be provided to you. We have also instructed staff to provide written responses and detailed information by 30 May 2000. Some of them will meet with representatives of affected people in project areas in June 2000.

In the attachment, I am providing the information on ADB staff directly responsible for the projects and programs of your concern. We shall be grateful if you could share this information with other members of your committee. You should expect to hear from our staff and also meet with some of them and other affected peoples in June. Please also feel free to get in touch with them directly, should you have any additional questions or concerns.

Once again, I would like to thank you for your interest in ADB activities.

Yours sincerely,

Myoung-Ho Shin
Vice president (West)
Asian Development Bank

Cc: Mr Weerapol Sopa, Representative, Thirty-Eight People’s Network, Thailand

Japanese NGO Representatives participating at the 33rd Annual Meeting.