Hostages Released At Power Plant Protest Site

[sriracha john]

Power Plant Protesters Release Hostages

The group protesting against a power plant in Chachoengsao Province have released two hostages after detaining them on Monday. However, the protesters continue to block a local road to seek the provincial governor's response to their demands.

Protesters blocked traffic on Chachoengsao-Kabinburi Road and seized a policeman's car. They were protesting a plan by private firm to build a power plant in the province. They also detained an executive of the firm who is responsible for the power plant's construction and a policeman on Monday.

Superintendent of the Bangkla police station, Police Colonel Narat Rattanajinda, met the protesters to negotiate, saying they would not be prosecuted and promising that the construction of the power plant would be suspended if they released the hostages.

The two hostages were released today.

However, the demonstrators continue to block traffic while waiting to hear from Chachoengsao Governor Surapol Pongthatsirikun.

-- Tan Network 2009-06-09

[sriracha john]

Taking a policeman as a hostage...

[MyphuketLife]

Taking a policeman as a hostage...

Is the PAD behind this one also?

[Scott]

And there is no penalty for taking hostages????!!! (Try that in the Southern provinces and see what happens).

[LennyW]

People taking hostages are extremists and terrorists and should be dealt with accordingly!!

[noahvail]

And there is no penalty for taking hostages????!!! (Try that in the Southern provinces and see what happens).

Could it just have been a tactic to de-detain those two unfortunate people? Back in the States, it's not unusual for the cops to tell the detainer that s/he won't be arrested if s/he releases the hostages...and as soon as they're freed, the former detainer is usually arrested, tried, and convicted - sometimes they're simply shot.

[sriracha john]

They're not stopping...

Power Plant Protesters Continue to Block Road

The group protesting against the planned construction of a power plant in Chachoengsao Province has continued to blockade a local road after the provincial Governor declined to respond to their demands.

Villagers in Tumbon Samet Nua in Chachoengsao's Bangkla district have continued their blockade of Route 304, the Chachoengsao-Kabinburi Road, to protest a power plant project.

The blockade began on Monday.

The villagers questioned how the power plant could be built in the area, and were told that many official processes must be completed before construction could begin.

Chachoengsao Governor Surapol Pongthatsirikun held a meeting with local administrators and politicians yesterday to discuss the protesters' requests and grievances.

After the meeting, the Deputy provincial Governor met with the protesters to negotiate, saying that the rally has been disrupting traffic.

The protesters have called for the Energy Minister to cancel the project, saying it will damage the environment and affect their lifestyles. They also threatened to block the road if their demands were not met.

-- Tan Network 2009-06-10

Edited June 10, 2009 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Police Set to Arrest Chachoengsao Power Plant Protesters

Police have sought arrest warrants for 200-300 protesters who blocked traffic on a road leading to Chachoengsao in protest of a private firm's plan to build a power plant in the province.

Around 200 protesters closed the route from Chachoengsao to Kabinburi to protest against the plan to construct a power plant in the area.

The protesters also threatened to block the other side of the road if their demands were not met. The blockade has resulted in complaints by motorists who have to use the road.

As a result, the Chachoengsao Governor had a meeting with related authorities to discuss the issuance of arrest warrants for the rally leaders.

The decision on the arrest warrants was made after the protesters refused to call off their road blockade.

-- Tan Network 2009-06-11

[sriracha john]

They're not stopping...

Power Plant Protesters Continue to Block Road

Police Set to Arrest Chachoengsao Power Plant Protesters

Police have sought arrest warrants for 200-300 protesters who blocked traffic on a road leading to Chachoengsao in protest of a private firm's plan to build a power plant in the province.

Thai Tenacity... AND, it's spreading...

Power Plant Protestors Continue to Block Roads

The group protesting against the planned construction of a power plant in Chachoengsao province has continued to block local roads, while villagers in the Swang Weerawong district of Ubon Ratchathani province have gathered to protest against a plan to construct a biomass fuel power plant in the area.

Villagers in Chachoengsao's Bangkla district have continued their blockade of Route 304, the Chachoengsao-Kabinburi Road, to protest a power plant project.

The blockade began on Monday and today is the fifth day of the protest.

Recently, the villagers blocked Paknam-Bangtalad, the road that is the shortcut from the downtown to Bangkok.

They said they would block Plang Yao-Lam Pradoo road if the plan to construct the power plan is not cancelled.

Meanwhile, more than 100 villagers in Ubon Ratchathani's Swang Weerawong district have gathered at the provincial City Hall.

The villagers have expressed their disapproval of a construction plan to build a private biomass fuel power plant. The villagers said there has been a report that the Industrial Works Department informed the Governor that the permission to build the power plant is incorrect.

The work group established by the province has scheduled a public hearing for June 18th. However, it did not provide information to the villagers.

Korn Matnok from the provincial office assisted by allowing representatives of the villagers to negotiate with the provincial agency for environment and public health.

As a result, the old work group was dissolved and the public hearing was postponed. A new work group, which will include representatives from the villagers will be established by the end of this month. As a result of this compromise, the villagers were satisfied and halted their gathering.

-- Tan Network 2009-06-12

Edited June 12, 2009 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Rival group wants end to protest

CHACHOENGSAO : More than 300 villagers in favour of a planned power plant yesterday gathered to pressure the provincial Governor to disperse another group of villagers who have set up a roadblock as part of their protest against the project. Rallying in front of the provincial hall, the villagers demanded Chachoengsao Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikul take action against the anti-power plant group, saying the provincial court has already ordered the protesters to stop blockading the Chachoengsao-Kabin Buri Road.

However, Chachoengsao Police Chief Surapong Kaitawan said he has not been informed that any group or agency has brought the issue to court. Police have taken security measures at the rally site on Route 304 to prevent a clash between the rival groups.

The anti-power plant group has occupied the road since Thursday to protest against the planned construction of a private power plant in Bang Khla district. They have vowed to expand their rallies to other roads if the government does not scrap the project they say will have a negative impact on their area.

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-06-13

[sriracha john]

PM Office Inspector Meets Villagers to Clear up Electricity Plant Plan in Chachoengsao

An inspector from the PM Office met with villagers in Chachoengsao province to update them on government's progress in resolving the conflict over a plan to build an electricity plant in Bang Kla district.

In Bang Kla distict, inspector from the PM Office, Panchai Wattanachai along with Chachoengsao Deputy Governor Sumitra Srisombat met with some 1,000 villagers to discuss government's progress in resolving the conflict over Siam Energy's construction plan in building an electricity plant.

This was done in accordance with the MOU, which was signed by Chachoengsao Governor and representatives from PM Office, Energy Ministry, and the villagers.

Following the highway blockage on Chachoengsao-Kabinburi Road by the villagers last week, they demanded that government agencies negotiate with Siam Energy to find a new site for construction of its electricity plant.

Panchai informed the villagers that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva acknowledges their problems and concerns.

He revealed that Abhisit has tasked the Energy Regulatory Commission with conducting a study on the effects of the power plant. Their study will then be forwarded to Energy Policy and Planning Office which will decide on the best solution to this dispute.

Siam Energy has been instructed to put a halt on its project until receiving notice from the government. The villagers said they are satisfied with the progress that the government has made regarding this matter, but still worry if the government is just trying to buy time instead of solving the problem for them.

-- Tan Network 2009-06-22

[Plus]

How far will it go? Protesters sure want the electricity but it's someone else who has to suffer the presense of the power plant. What if those guys put up their protests?

NGV buses, power plants, state railways - nothing can be done anymore, democracy is everywhere to make sure nothing works.