Thepa power plant activists to face another charge

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
The Nation 

 

 

THE 16 prominent activists who were arrested over the Thepa coal-fired power plant protest now face another allegation of violating the Public Gathering Act, according to their lawyer.

 

The lawyer, Sor Rattanamanee Polkla, said this on Friday evening after hearing Songkhla Provincial Court’s decision on whether it would extend the detention period of the 16 protesters. The court approved a police request to extend the detention period for 12 more days because the police were preparing another charge against the protesters.

 

Sor Rattanamanee said that the police will officially notify the defendants of this new allegation of violating the Public Gathering Act on Wednesday. There will also be a gathering in front of Songkhla Provincial Court on that date to campaign against the prosecution on the activists.

 

On November 27, the police cracked down on protesters who were marching to the venue of a mobile Cabinet meeting with the intention of meeting Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha.

 

Sixteen activists were arrested over allegations of blocking traffic, marching on a public highway, fighting with police officers and carrying weapons in public.

 

“We disagree with this new allegation by the police, because a violation of the Public Gathering Act can be detected at once,” Sor Rattanamanee said. She said the charges should have been filed then.

 

She also said that the protesters had notified the police before they undertook their march and that police had cracked down on the demonstration before a court notice to disband the protest arrived. For this reason, the new charge was unlawful, she said.

 

“Right now we are waiting on the police to submit the case to the court and they will have a deadline on January 14, or the court will have no right to detain the arrested activists any more,” she said.

 

All arrested activists are currently considered as being under court detention, despite the fact that they have been temporarily released on bail. However, their detention period can last for only 48 days after their arrests. If this period is over before the case is sent to court, the court will have no option but to return the guarantee money and release them.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30335120

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-31

Now the junta gets completely mxd. The construction of the coal power plant will take six years. When every other country is going "green" and Thailand with its abundance of sun fires up a coal powered plant in six or seven years from now, this will not be communicable at all. I have the feeling, that the construction of the power plant alone will splash enough money into the pockets of some influential folks. The plant may end up as an abandoned construction, but it then will have fulfilled its purpose.

 

 

Edited December 31, 20178 yr by fxe1200

Lord. Simply allow these people to express their opinions and it's a non-issue.  Arresting them makes them martyrs.

14 minutes ago, connda said:

Lord. Simply allow these people to express their opinions and it's a non-issue.  

I wouldn’t say that as the junta allowed Luang Pu Issara and 200 supporters demonstrated at the US Embassy against ambassador Davies. They do allow protest selectively. 

Given Prem's comments, this will make the government even more hated.  It is time to allow debate, or irk the populace even further.  It is the end of the milk run for the junta.

36 minutes ago, connda said:

Lord. Simply allow these people to express their opinions and it's a non-issue.  Arresting them makes them martyrs.

another international blackeye for thailand in the eyes of the international human rights watchers; current thai govt just keeps getting it wrong

6 hours ago, fxe1200 said:

Now the junta gets completely mxd. The construction of the coal power plant will take six years. When every other country is going "green" and Thailand with its abundance of sun fires up a coal powered plant in six or seven years from now, this will not be communicable at all. I have the feeling, that the construction of the power plant alone will splash enough money into the pockets of some influential folks. The plant may end up as an abandoned construction, but it then will have fulfilled its purpose.

 

 

I have read that in China,7 solar panels are installed every second.Why on earth is a similar policy not been carried out here ? Solar energy has been proved to be much cheaper than that from coal fired power stations, not to mention that it is infinitely cleaner, resulting in less medical problems,

39 minutes ago, lincolnshire poacher said:

I have read that in China,7 solar panels are installed every second.Why on earth is a similar policy not been carried out here ? Solar energy has been proved to be much cheaper than that from coal fired power stations, not to mention that it is infinitely cleaner, resulting in less medical problems,

Id love to see some proof of your statement about the cost part, the rest i believe. I am all for the right to demonstrate, not agreeing with those people being locked up. Just having a bit of a problem believing that solar power is cheaper. 

 

You will always need coal fired next to solar power because.. what do you do at night when the power consumption is highest. You need over production and good storage place for the energy. So i doubt its cheaper. (wish it were)

41 minutes ago, lincolnshire poacher said:

I have read that in China,7 solar panels are installed every second.Why on earth is a similar policy not been carried out here ? Solar energy has been proved to be much cheaper than that from coal fired power stations, not to mention that it is infinitely cleaner, resulting in less medical problems,

China really has no choice.  The government is getting very low marks for its handling of the environment by young Chinese living in the northeast.  They are going south or leaving the country for places like Cambodia.

 

Have not seen what the power requirements are for the future, so cannot comment on the use of solar.  Some dirt may be inevitable, but what makes up for that is reforestation.   Trees clean the air.  China has cut down most of their trees.  Solar panels get better and cheaper every year. 

 

15 minutes ago, robblok said:

Id love to see some proof of your statement about the cost part, the rest i believe. I am all for the right to demonstrate, not agreeing with those people being locked up. Just having a bit of a problem believing that solar power is cheaper. 

 

You will always need coal fired next to solar power because.. what do you do at night when the power consumption is highest. You need over production and good storage place for the energy. So i doubt its cheaper. (wish it were)

Solar cells get better and cheaper every year as do batteries for night time storage.  If the power requirements are known, you can do a simple calculation.  Not having a debate, is further irking the residence.  If it were all out in the open, perhaps some sort of compromise could be reached. 

12 hours ago, lincolnshire poacher said:

I have read that in China,7 solar panels are installed every second.Why on earth is a similar policy not been carried out here ? Solar energy has been proved to be much cheaper than that from coal fired power stations, not to mention that it is infinitely cleaner, resulting in less medical problems,

China is also Oz"s largest customer for black coal. I wonder what they do with it?

 

Meanwhile, Oz, the world's largest coal exporter. refuses to build a new coal-fired PS despite warnings and occurrences of power shortages. The federal government has realised the idiotic path we are being led down, and is making noises about coal fired PS construction, despite the protests of the un- and ill-informed, as necessary for RELIABLE power supply.

15 hours ago, yellowboat said:

China really has no choice.  The government is getting very low marks for its handling of the environment by young Chinese living in the northeast.  They are going south or leaving the country for places like Cambodia.

 

Have not seen what the power requirements are for the future, so cannot comment on the use of solar.  Some dirt may be inevitable, but what makes up for that is reforestation.   Trees clean the air.  China has cut down most of their trees.  Solar panels get better and cheaper every year. 

 

China is building clean coal fired power stations at the rate of one a month and building Nukes every year.  Stop this green energy propaganda.

The claims by the  'greenies' how the world is being destroyed by fossil fuels is crap.  The world has more plant life as a result of increasing CO2 levels.....it is food for plants.

11 hours ago, tryasimight said:

China is building clean coal fired power stations at the rate of one a month and building Nukes every year.  Stop this green energy propaganda.

The claims by the  'greenies' how the world is being destroyed by fossil fuels is crap.  The world has more plant life as a result of increasing CO2 levels.....it is food for plants.

It is not propaganda, and it is really about having a conversation with all parties and not having an unelected, unaccountable government making decisions.  The junta runs away from debate like a scared chicken.  Much like Prawit when asked about his expensive watches and ring.  That has upset many reds and yellows, and they do not want those kinds of people making decisions about Thailand's future.  And solar panels are things of science not propaganda.  The are marvelous, useful things.  Can they satisfy the world's energy needs ?  Possibly not, but those needs need to be mathematically calculated and debated / discussed.

 

How long did you live in China ?  You think twice about going for a walk in Beijing and other parts of the northeast.  Also many young, smart people are leaving that part of China and moving south to where the air is cleaner.  In 2016, Shenzhen property shot up 61%.  What worries Beijing is that young, smart Chinese are becoming disillusioned and leaving northeast China or leaving for other countries like Cambodia. 

 

You will also know if you know anything about China, they are opening the world's largest carbon credit market.  That is a greenie political solution, not one based on tackling problems with science or good governance. 

 

My understanding is that clean coal fire plants takes the soot and puts it into bricks for construction.  How does that effect the construction industry in Thailand ?

 

For CO2 to be good for plants, there must be enough of them to convert it back into oxygen.  Much of the world has been deforested, so the air and water is not being cleaned.  How long does it take to reforest ?  In Southeast Asia, about three years to where animals will take up residence for sustainable growth, but planting the frame work trees of the forest takes a lot of time and money. 

 

It is to propaganda.  It is science and good governance.  Both are lacking in Thailand and other countries. 

7 hours ago, yellowboat said:

It is not propaganda, and it is really about having a conversation with all parties and not having an unelected, unaccountable government making decisions.  The junta runs away from debate like a scared chicken.  Much like Prawit when asked about his expensive watches and ring.  That has upset many reds and yellows, and they do not want those kinds of people making decisions about Thailand's future.  And solar panels are things of science not propaganda.  The are marvelous, useful things.  Can they satisfy the world's energy needs ?  Possibly not, but those needs need to be mathematically calculated and debated / discussed.

 

How long did you live in China ?  You think twice about going for a walk in Beijing and other parts of the northeast.  Also many young, smart people are leaving that part of China and moving south to where the air is cleaner.  In 2016, Shenzhen property shot up 61%.  What worries Beijing is that young, smart Chinese are becoming disillusioned and leaving northeast China or leaving for other countries like Cambodia. 

 

You will also know if you know anything about China, they are opening the world's largest carbon credit market.  That is a greenie political solution, not one based on tackling problems with science or good governance. 

 

My understanding is that clean coal fire plants takes the soot and puts it into bricks for construction.  How does that effect the construction industry in Thailand ?

 

For CO2 to be good for plants, there must be enough of them to convert it back into oxygen.  Much of the world has been deforested, so the air and water is not being cleaned.  How long does it take to reforest ?  In Southeast Asia, about three years to where animals will take up residence for sustainable growth, but planting the frame work trees of the forest takes a lot of time and money. 

 

It is to propaganda.  It is science and good governance.  Both are lacking in Thailand and other countries. 

Your credibility takes a huge hit when you refer to 'soot' which is unburnt carbon. Power stations DO NOT waste fuel. But even anthracite has an ash content which is used as a building material. As it has been available for many years I don't see how it would affect the construction industry, or the relevance.

You failed to address the issue that China is building coal-fired PS at a rapid rate, preferring to push the political point of the junta's accountability. They do have the benefit of being informed re the country's energy needs and how they can be supplied, and the problems associated with uncontrolled and weather affected inputs. that informed opinion is far more valuable than the bleatings of those willing to accept the bloated hyperbole of those pushing their green agenda.

 

Don't try to argue with the green guys, don't you know that they

are always right, and they do not need oil products, as they all wear

fur and walk as oil lubricents are needed in their bikes, and trikes and

walkers.  I am a dinosaur who drives a big van with a 6 cylinder engine,

and pollution devices on it as well as the exhaust system, but I was told

shame shame because of its size. The greenies have nice hair though

and rosy sunglasses. I have 7 members who live in my house

and often fill the van to 11 seats of people when going out

on family outings, just to explain why I bought this machine.

Geezer

Edited January 2, 20188 yr by Stargrazer9889
error

There is a fallacy that China is still building coal powered power plants like mad. Or the rest of the world. In fact coal consumption in China has been static for some years, although a small future increase is likely.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/22/coal-power-plants-green-energy-china-india

 

Construction worldwide of new coal fired plants fell by 62% in 2016, and nearly as much old plant was decommissioned as was built. Times they are a changin.

16 hours ago, halloween said:

Your credibility takes a huge hit when you refer to 'soot' which is unburnt carbon. Power stations DO NOT waste fuel. But even anthracite has an ash content which is used as a building material. As it has been available for many years I don't see how it would affect the construction industry, or the relevance.

You failed to address the issue that China is building coal-fired PS at a rapid rate, preferring to push the political point of the junta's accountability. They do have the benefit of being informed re the country's energy needs and how they can be supplied, and the problems associated with uncontrolled and weather affected inputs. that informed opinion is far more valuable than the bleatings of those willing to accept the bloated hyperbole of those pushing their green agenda.

 

You failed to mention China's opening of the world's largest carbon market, which is as greenie, Al Gore as you can get.  Accountability of government and debate are the points.   If they are as ultra clean as billed, then debate will be short.   Not against having to do what is necessary, but not without discussion.  

5 hours ago, yellowboat said:

You failed to mention China's opening of the world's largest carbon market, which is as greenie, Al Gore as you can get.  Accountability of government and debate are the points.   If they are as ultra clean as billed, then debate will be short.   Not against having to do what is necessary, but not without discussion.  

Mainly because it has very little relevance to Thailand's plan to build A (singular) small coal-fired station.

On 1/3/2018 at 4:37 AM, halloween said:

Mainly because it has very little relevance to Thailand's plan to build A (singular) small coal-fired station.

You played the China card as you thought it suited your argument.  The article below points to China overestimating its needs for the fossil fuel.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/22/coal-power-plants-green-energy-china-india

What are the estimated needs for Thailand?   Why are people arrested, instead of being allowed to debate? What is the track record for Thailand's operation and maintenance of coal fire ?  Lived across from one in Hong Kong for many years.  You could not smell it, just saw a bit of white smoke, but it is a bloody eyesore of what once was an island paradise a half hour ferry ride for downtown.  Again, the junta should allow those effected to speak their mind. 

6 hours ago, yellowboat said:

You played the China card as you thought it suited your argument.  The article below points to China overestimating its needs for the fossil fuel.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/22/coal-power-plants-green-energy-china-india

What are the estimated needs for Thailand?   Why are people arrested, instead of being allowed to debate? What is the track record for Thailand's operation and maintenance of coal fire ?  Lived across from one in Hong Kong for many years.  You could not smell it, just saw a bit of white smoke, but it is a bloody eyesore of what once was an island paradise a half hour ferry ride for downtown.  Again, the junta should allow those effected to speak their mind. 

That's a great reason to deny people cheap electricity, because it offends your sensibilities. a ill full of windmills would be much more acceptable, right?

Why should people be allowed to repeat the lies they are fed, to influence others against a project that will benefit all the people in the region? why should hyperbole and BS be taken into account when making decisions?

3 hours ago, halloween said:

That's a great reason to deny people cheap electricity, because it offends your sensibilities. a ill full of windmills would be much more acceptable, right?

Why should people be allowed to repeat the lies they are fed, to influence others against a project that will benefit all the people in the region? why should hyperbole and BS be taken into account when making decisions?

"Why should people be allowed to repeat the lies they are fed, to influence others against a project that will benefit all the people in the region?"

 

You prevent people being misinformed by providing more plausible information in a manner people find convincing. You do not add to the hyperbole by locking them up if you think your cause is just.

20 hours ago, baboon said:

"Why should people be allowed to repeat the lies they are fed, to influence others against a project that will benefit all the people in the region?"

 

You prevent people being misinformed by providing more plausible information in a manner people find convincing. You do not add to the hyperbole by locking them up if you think your cause is just.

They were locked up for violence, stupidity isn't an excuse.

21 hours ago, baboon said:

"Why should people be allowed to repeat the lies they are fed, to influence others against a project that will benefit all the people in the region?"

 

You prevent people being misinformed by providing more plausible information in a manner people find convincing. You do not add to the hyperbole by locking them up if you think your cause is just.

If somebody is telling you that a conductor will kill you if you touch it, how do I offer "plausible information" that it is low voltage and safe? Who gets the benefit of doubt?

Villagers are being told their fish will be killed, their health ruined. Even if those claims are untrue, and their is little doubt the claims are exaggerated, who will be willing to take that risk on conflicting information?

On 1/5/2018 at 5:30 AM, halloween said:

That's a great reason to deny people cheap electricity, because it offends your sensibilities. a ill full of windmills would be much more acceptable, right?

Why should people be allowed to repeat the lies they are fed, to influence others against a project that will benefit all the people in the region? why should hyperbole and BS be taken into account when making decisions?

Yeah, you are absolutely right.  Aesthetics are a great reason.  We all know no wealthy neighborhood anywhere in the world would allow such a thing built near them, so if you are less than wealthy, all you can do is debate and hope to be compensated.  Compensating those effected by any project is just part of the business.  

 

For somebody who partakes in rigorous debate, you certainly seem to think others should not enjoy the same opportunities.