Pictures courtesy of Matichon 

 

A public hearing in Chonburi province collapsed on 26 December 2025 after heated arguments between local residents and representatives of a Taiwanese-owned company planning to build a factory, with the confrontation nearly turning violent. The meeting was abruptly cancelled, leaving concerns unresolved and delaying any formal discussion on the project’s potential impacts.

 

The incident occurred at about 10.00am at the sermon hall of Wat Suan Nam Tok in Moo 6, Nong Khang Khok subdistrict, Mueang district, Chonburi. Sunhe Kitchen and Bath Products Co Ltd, a Taiwanese company, organised the hearing to address opposition to its factory producing plastic taps and bathroom products on a 20-rai site. Around 50 people attended, including villagers, officials and religious leaders, before the meeting broke down amid shouting and attempts to assault one another, which were stopped in time.

 

The background to the dispute centres on claims by residents of Moo 6, Nong Khang Khok, that the factory was constructed without prior consultation, community meetings or public hearings. Villagers said the factory structure was almost complete after about three months of construction before they became aware of the project, prompting them to organise protests and demand explanations.

 

At the hearing, the Taiwanese factory owner attempted to explain the project, alongside local officials including Atthiwat Charoensriwong, Deputy District Chief of Mueang Chonburi, Busaba Khamphin, Deputy Chief Executive of Nong Khang Khok Subdistrict Administrative Organisation acting as its chief, Phra Athikan Prasarn Phonpunyo, abbot of Wat Suan Nam Tok, and Phairat Withi, village headman of Moo 5, Nong Ri subdistrict. Despite these efforts, discussions quickly escalated into confrontation, causing the session to collapse.

 

Anan Phusa, a resident of Moo 6, said villagers numbering nearly 600 had never been informed about the factory or its activities. He stated that no official invitations were sent to residents for the hearing and that information had instead circulated in Moo 5, Nong Ri, which is outside the factory site area. “If the company had approached villagers to explain the project, this problem would not have happened,” he said, adding that residents were concerned about possible odours and wastewater from plastic moulding or injection processes.

 

Phairat Withi said that although Moo 5, Nong Ri is not the factory’s location, residents there could still be affected by air pollution. He said he attended the hearing to gather information to pass on to his community. Matichon reported that following the confrontation, the public hearing was immediately cancelled. Authorities and stakeholders indicated that a new meeting would be scheduled at a later date to resume discussions.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• A public hearing on a Taiwanese-owned factory in Chonburi collapsed after heated arguments on 26 December 2025.

• Residents opposed the project, saying construction began without consultation or public awareness.

• Officials plan to reschedule talks after the meeting was cancelled due to the clash.

 

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 Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-12-28

 

 

The new cars might have to be returned to the show room then.

Strange behaviour, usually it brings jobs to local communities

These Thaiwannabees just don’t know how things are done.

 

Forget the meetings and have a party.

 

Plenty of food and booze plus 1000 baht each and all opposition will evaporate into thin air.

the factory structure was almost complete after about three months of construction before they became aware of the project

 

How can anyone not see/hear a factory being built over a 3 month period  🤣