Environmental Lawsuit By Thai Farmers A First For Civil Court

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ENVIRONMENT

Environmental lawsuit a first for Civil Court

By Kesinee Taengkiew

The Nation

The Civil Court yesterday accepted a complaint lodged by a group of farmers in Saraburi against a garbage disposal firm, the court's first-ever environmental impact lawsuit.

The group is demanding the company pay them Bt2 billion in compensation for releasing toxic discharge harmful to their health.

Prior to yesterday's hearing, Supreme Court president Sobchoke Sukharom and court officials presided over the inauguration of environmental lawsuits through Civil Court procedures. Such cases require no lawsuit fees or lower fees from plaintiffs than in normal civil cases.

The 214 plaintiffs are farmers living in Kaeng Khoi and Muang districts. They claim that garbage handled by BetterWorld made them sick, with the conditions increasing in severity since the firm started operating there in 1999.

The lawsuit said the firm initially disposed of non-toxic garbage but had illegally included toxic trash in its operations. It said initial inspections by government agencies found excessive cadmium, mercury and other toxic substances in discharge that contaminated the farmers' land, water resources and cattle dens.

The plaintiffs claim they are suffering from rashes, respiratory difficulties, poor eyesight and eye pain, chest pain, body cysts, nose infections, severe headaches, constant nausea and body aches.

Under the new procedure, a hearing to seek an out-of-court settlement, which has not yet been scheduled, is required before the trial begins.

-- The Nation 2011-05-26

[jaltsc]

Yes, I am sure the disposal firm has contributed to the pollution of the environment, but not all the pollution. Would these same farmers be so willing to see justice done if they were prosecuted for burning their fields and polluting the air with smoke... Causing rashes, respiratory difficulties, poor eyesight and eye pain, chest pain, nose infections, severe headaches, constant nausea and body aches? And...what about their use of dangerous agricultural chemicals which have been banned in many western countries? These farmers are probably contributing more to environmental pollution than the disposal firm. Looks like just another way to get some money and not take any responsibility for some of their own actions.

[KhunVee]

Yes, I am sure the disposal firm has contributed to the pollution of the environment, but not all the pollution. Would these same farmers be so willing to see justice done if they were prosecuted for burning their fields and polluting the air with smoke... Causing rashes, respiratory difficulties, poor eyesight and eye pain, chest pain, nose infections, severe headaches, constant nausea and body aches? And...what about their use of dangerous agricultural chemicals which have been banned in many western countries? These farmers are probably contributing more to environmental pollution than the disposal firm. Looks like just another way to get some money and not take any responsibility for some of their own actions.

!!!!! hear hear !!!!!

:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

[Asa]

Yes, I am sure the disposal firm has contributed to the pollution of the environment, but not all the pollution. Would these same farmers be so willing to see justice done if they were prosecuted for burning their fields and polluting the air with smoke... Causing rashes, respiratory difficulties, poor eyesight and eye pain, chest pain, nose infections, severe headaches, constant nausea and body aches? And...what about their use of dangerous agricultural chemicals which have been banned in many western countries? These farmers are probably contributing more to environmental pollution than the disposal firm. Looks like just another way to get some money and not take any responsibility for some of their own actions.

!!!!! hear hear !!!!!

:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Darn it, a step to clean their home town is met with slaps from TV elite cult.

[krangeek]

Yes, I am sure the disposal firm has contributed to the pollution of the environment, but not all the pollution. Would these same farmers be so willing to see justice done if they were prosecuted for burning their fields and polluting the air with smoke... Causing rashes, respiratory difficulties, poor eyesight and eye pain, chest pain, nose infections, severe headaches, constant nausea and body aches? And...what about their use of dangerous agricultural chemicals which have been banned in many western countries? These farmers are probably contributing more to environmental pollution than the disposal firm. Looks like just another way to get some money and not take any responsibility for some of their own actions.

Your post is incredibly simplistic and arrogant. Are you at all aware of the knock on effects of these chemicals. And if so, why do you think the farming community does? They are peasant farmers with absolutely no knowledge of the effects their cheaply bought pesticides having on their harvest. And, quite probably, don't care. They have not the education otherwise, and like the majority of Thais, think only of 'tomorrow'.

Are you personally prepared to advise them otherwise? Thought not.

Edited May 26, 2011 by krangeek