Although the broad public and organized public actors such as NGO
and CSO are officially acknowledged as having legitimate right to be part
of the planning process, limited access to information and exclusion
fromdecision making process still exist and block a meaningful exercise
of public participation (TEI, 2005; KPI, 2009). In theory, participatory
process in SEA is a promising channel for the public to employ their
power,which can possibly push their concerns and suggestions directly
to the planners and decision makers. But in practical terms, this channel
has not been fully opened to all stakeholders. Only a certain few
stakeholders are ready and/or interested to use their right and articulate
their voice. Public participation in the four SEA cases discussed have
ranged from a very limited participation in the Chiang Rai case, to
participation by a few selected stakeholders, and to a number of
stakeholders meeting events in the cases of Yom River Basin and
Southern Seaboard Development. But even with the improved
participation processes, local politicians and many stakeholders have
generally complained about their lack or limited opportunities to
participate in SEA process (interview, 2009).