Loei Villagers Claim Armed Mob Attacked Them Over Mine Row

[Flashermac]

Police have stepped in to ease tension at a village in Loei, where residents say they were attacked by more than 100 armed, masked men late on Thursday night.

 

Wielding iron bars and carrying knives and guns, the men attacked residents of Ban Na Nong Bong in Tambon Khao Luang, Wang Saphung district. Some victims say they were detained illegally until early yesterday.

 

Pornthip Hongchai, a prominent member of the Khon Rak Ban Kerd Group, said as many as 41 people were injured and one remained in hospital.

 

Wang Saphung Police Station superintendent Colonel Somchai Srikhamdaeng vowed to investigate the residents' complaints.

 

Several victims believe the armed strangers were linked to Thung Kham Co Ltd, which operates a gold mine in their neighbourhood. While the men were there, several trucks left the company's compound, reportedly carrying a huge amount of copper.

 

Locals suspect that some valuable minerals were brought in from elsewhere and smelted in a way that endangered their health and the environment.

 

Public health authorities warned locals not to use rainwater and water in the area.

 

Since last year, residents of Ban Na Nong Bong have taken turns guarding the road in and out of the compound to prevent any delivery of valuable minerals in the hope their environment and health will get better if the company finally decides to leave.

 

Col Somchai promised to answer the residents' demand that the culprits be arrested quickly, to stop the illegal transportation of minerals and launch a disciplinary probe into police who failed to stop the attack.

 

The police chief gave the assurances only after many members of the Khon Rak Ban Kerd Group rallied in front of the police station and blockaded a nearby intersection yesterday.

 

"Police and relevant officials should step in to ensure the safety of people," protest leader Samai Pakmee demanded.

 

Wirorn Rujiyaiwat lamented that locals were frightened as the strangers attacked them and took away their valuables such as cameras, gold necklaces and cell phones.

 

"It's as if we were in the war zone," she said.

 

Yon Khunna, who was watching out for the village on Thursday night, said the men tied his hands and beat him up for hours.

 

"I was released just at 4.30am," he said.

 

Somchai said police rushed to the scene when the incident was reported on Thursday night but locals prevented police from enter the village.

 

"They were afraid our presence would complicate the situation because things happened in the darkness," Somchai said.

 

He said police finally inspected the village and gathered evidence during the daytime.

 

A brick and concrete wall erected by locals to block the company's operation has been brought down.

 

The Network of Lecturers and Students for Society and the Environment issued a statement condemning the attack.

 

"This is a grave violation against human rights and community rights," the group said.

 

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Loei-villagers-claim-armed-mob-attacked-them-over--30233872.html

[Flashermac]

This is in red shirt country, but don't expect Pheu Thai to show any interest in it. They never have so far.

[Flashermac]

Phichit residents accuse gold mine over chemical leaks

 

 

Residents in Phichit's Tab Khlor district yesterday lodged a complaint with police accusing a gold mine operation of discharging chemical leaks that have sickened them for many years.

 

The leader of the group, Suekanya Theerachartdamrong, said an initial diagnosis by university academics had found that residents had been sickened by leaks of arsenic and manganese, which are carcinogenic and caused them rashes, muscle weakness and cancers in certain cases.

 

The goldmine covers a 3,000-rai area and was operated in 2001. Suekanya said the mine had also contaminated water and harmed the environment.

 

Wutthiphong Fangsanoh, a former mine worker, said an examination of his body had detected arsenic in his blood, which proved that the mine had covered up a report, which falsely said the operation had not discharged heavy metals.

 

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Phichit-residents-accuse-gold-mine-over-chemical-l-30233867.html

[Flashermac]

Factories raided for illegally discharging waste

 

 

Raids were conducted yesterday on two Samut Sakhon factories, which were found to have illegally discharged untreated contaminated industrial waste in the Tha Chin River.

 

The first factory, which sorts and cleans industrial waste, is located in Muang district. It was found to have dumped liquid detergent into the river, according to Department of Special Investigation agents who conducted the raids jointly with Industry Ministry officials.

 

The unnamed factory is owned by Malaysian nationals and operates without a licence, senior ministry official Suraphol Chamart said. An check on tax payment by the factory was underway and its closure being processed, he added.

 

The other raid was conducted on a factory owned by Global Venture Services Co Ltd also located in Muang district. Officials said that this firm, owned by an unidentified Belgian, operates in a manner similar to the first, and also had no licence. The owner also runs an entertainment service, and is being investigated for suspected violation of anti-money laundering laws.

 

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Factories-raided-for-illegally-discharging-waste-30233868.html

[Flashermac]

Just some of this morning's news in Amazing Thailand ...

[cavanami]

This is in my backyard...I will have to get details...

[jitagawn]

This is really bad.

[Flashermac]

Call for CSD involvement

 

 

Several networks are pressuring police to quickly nail the culprits behind a blatant and well-organised attack on villagers engaged in a long-running environmental dispute with a nearby mine.

 

They also demanded that the Loei governor bring the Crime Suppression Division into the investigation, which is being handled by local police.

 

Late on Thursday night, villagers said more than 100 masked men stormed into Ban Na Nong Bong in Tambon Khao Luang, Wang Saphung district.

 

Wielding iron bars and carrying knives and guns, the men attacked residents. Some victims were held illegally until Friday morning.

 

More than 30 were injured, three seriously.

 

Locals allege the armed men have links to the mining company. While the men were there, several trucks left the company's compound, reportedly carrying a huge amount of copper.

 

Veerapon Charoentham, the co-ordinator for the 10 community networks calling for swift action, yesterday joined a blessing ceremony held to boost the morale of Ban Na Nong Bong residents.

 

The networks issued a joint statement listing several demands, including the mentioned ones. The networks include the Loei Health Society Network, the Tambon Administrative Organisation's Chief Administrator Club, the Lawyers Council of Thailand, and the Media for Development Network.

 

"Local people are now worried about their safety. They believe such armed men will return to facilitate the delivery of valuable minerals from the mine again," the statement said.

 

Locals have expressed strong opposition to the mining operation, as they suspect that valuable minerals were brought in from elsewhere and smelted in a way that endangers their health and the environment. Public health authorities have warned locals not to use rainwater and water in the area.

 

Santipap Siriwattanapibul, a lecturer at Udon Thani Rajabhat University, yesterday joined several organisations in expressing concern over the violence.

 

They released a joint statement urging the Loei governor and police to quickly take action against the dastardly villains.

 

The statement also demanded that relevant authorities develop measures to protect human-rights defenders in Wang Saphung district.

 

"Necessary action must be taken before deaths and forced disappearances of human-rights defenders take place," it said.

 

Last month, prominent activist Pholachi "Billy" Rakchongcharoen went missing in Phetchaburi.

 

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Call-for-CSD-involvement-30233942.html

[scoobydoo]

this sounds like a job for mr majestyk or the A-Team

[Flashermac]

Or Bruce Lee ...