Mahachai Mourns Slain Anticoal Protester

[webfact]

Mahachai mourns slain anticoal protester

By The Nation

More than 300 residents in Mahachai yesterday paraded a coffin with a picture of conservation activist Thongnak Sawekjinda who was shot dead last week after his long struggle against a coal project in Samut Sakhon.

A procession of people and pickup trucks went around the town of Mahachai subdistrict in the province in the rain, holding posters declaring 'no coal.'

Thongnak, 47, was shot dead on July 28 in front of his house in Samut Sakhon's Tha Sai subdistrict. Police said the attackers may have been motivated by his long protest against a coal transportation project in Tha Sai subdistrict.

Khamjorn Mongkoltrilak, president of Samut Sakhon Fishery Association who organised the parade yesterday said the event aimed to honour Thongnak for his struggle and to tell people there were forces in the province who killed the activist as he fought to protect the local environment.

"This is for the bravery of Khun Thongsak who now becomes a symbol for environmental protection," he said.

Police Colonel Chamlang Sudchai, Muang Samut Sakhon district police chief said Thongnak's death attracted the attention of senior police officers in the national police office who wanted the suspects brought to justice as soon as possible.

"We have evidence in tracing the gunmen and I am confident we can bring them to justice in a short period," he said.

Thongnak's wife Jomkwan Sawekjinda said she believed the gun attack on her husband involved the struggle against the coal project and she called for the quick arrest of the culprits.

Local residents also issued a statement during the parade demanding the provincial authority stop using waterways for transportation of coal as well as terminating the transportation licences issued for coal operators. They also called for the removal of coal plants away from communities, schools, temples and agricultural areas.

-- The Nation 2011-08-01

[Ijustwannateach]

A real Thai hero.

[taff33]

Is there a law in Thailand that open cast mining can't be worked close to villages or schools.

[webfact]

Coal Opposition Case Progression

The Samutsakorn public has held a parade to ask for justice for an anti-coal mine group leader, who was shot dead last week.

Yesterday morning, the environmental conservation group, the anti-coal industrial group, and a large number of Samutsakorn people gathered at the provincial hall.

They brought a coffin and a picture of an anti-coal mine group leader, Thongnak Sawekjinda, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on July 28.

The group held a parade to call for justice for its leader.

It gained huge attention from locals.

Locals insist they will continue to fight to protect the Samutsakorn environment.

Their first mission is to suppress the administration and suspend licenses for coal industries.

Meanwhile, Samutsakorn Muang Police Chief Jamlang Soodjai, expressed confidence that the sniper and the man behind the attack will be arrested soon.

He insisted that police officials are working hard on the case.

Thongnak's body will be kept for 1 year, according to Raman traditional rites.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-01

[webfact]

Crime Suppression Police arrest 2 suspects in shooting of anti-coal mine activist; another 2 still on the run /TAN_Network

[JurgenG]

Could someone be kind enough to give us the back ground of this story ?

[Tywais]

Could someone be kind enough to give us the back ground of this story ?

Believe some background here > Coal mine protests

Also initial report here > Thailand live

[RickBradford]

That's the way it works here -- a little guy gets in the way, hey, just blow him away and try to avoid the backwash.

(Or more accurately, hire some knuckle-draggers to do it for you while you stay well out of the way establishing your alibi.)

[thequietman]

Is there a law in Thailand that open cast mining can't be worked close to villages or schools.

money is the law here. there are 2 rules;

1. money is the law

2, if unsure about the law please refer to rule number 1

phone masts, huge house structures, factories dumping chemicals in the water, factories using too much water,people been driven from their grounds and homes for this coal project, people been given a set price for their ground and been told in no uncertain terms that they are selling, hotels encroaching on to the beaches, police men building homes on forestry land, people building private golf courses on government land, and it goes on and on and on and on (repeat for effect)

money is the law here. thats the only law you need to be aware off. any other laws dont apply but they do if you have no money.

[webfact]

COAL SHIPMENT

Samut Sakhon shipment to be halted on court injunction

By The Nation

The Central Administration Court has put on hold the coal transport in Samut Sakhon, in favour of Thongnak Sawekchinda who was gunned down last week.

The injunction order, signed on Friday July 29, was in favour of the petition submitted by Thongnak Sawekchinda and three other individuals. In their petition, the Tambon Tha Sai administrative body, Samut Sakhon industrial office, and Samut Sakhon's marine transportation office were named as the defendants.

In his petition, Thongnak said that Technique Team (Thailand) Ltd, the company involved in the coal transport has operated the service without approval under the Public Health law. The operation continued even though Samut Sakhon Court in 2010 slapped the company with a jail sentence and penalties, and the provincial governor ordered a shipment halt on July 13, 2011. He said that due to the company's shipment, some of the coal drop to the river and roadsides. Loaded trucks also damage the road surface while coal-filled dust could send negative impacts on the public health.

Local authorities are obliged to honour the Central Administrative Court's order.

The case will tomorrow be transferred to the court's environment section, once the section is officially unveiled.

Thongnak was assasinated last week.

-- The Nation 2011-08-01

[OzMick]

Before I start, let me state that I absolutely abhor the assassination of this activist.

I also have a strong dislike for NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard). The terms used in the posts and the link seem to have lost much in translation, but I am assuming (always risky) that coal "operations" and "factories" are referring to the normal demons; open cut mines and coal-fired power stations with a possibility of a washery, and/or a factory requiring steam. Coal is a fuel, and rarely used as a raw material.

All are polluters to varying extent. Open cuts with dust, noise and light; coal-fired power stations with dust (both coal and after-combustion), ash residue containing heavy metals, noxious oxides of Sulphur (depending on coal quality) and Nitrogen, and the lesser evils of carbon dioxide and EMF; washeries emit mud and coal dust polluted water; steam using factories similar to power station but to a much smaller extent.

The point is that all these pollutants can be minimized, or at least their effects on the neighbouring areas. Coal is where you find it, power stations require lots of water, and to be as close to the coal and power users as possible. If the people of the area find this intolerable, then hard and unpopular decisions have to be made.

The choice is, does Thailand become a modern industrialized economy where above minimum wages are more than possible, or remain a largely primary producer where minimum wages are inevitable.

BTW some are the complaints are merely frivolous. Coal is not poisonous or toxic (though I wouldn't recommend long-term dust exposure, but dust management is cheap and low-tech). Trucks damage roads - so levy each movement and build better roads, restrict routes and operating hours.

Quietman - land resumptions for large projects are common in every country, and rarely if ever do those whose land was resumed think that they got a fair deal.

[who]

Before I start, let me state that I absolutely abhor the assassination of this activist.

I also have a strong dislike for NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard). The terms used in the posts and the link seem to have lost much in translation, but I am assuming (always risky) that coal "operations" and "factories" are referring to the normal demons; open cut mines and coal-fired power stations with a possibility of a washery, and/or a factory requiring steam. Coal is a fuel, and rarely used as a raw material.

All are polluters to varying extent. Open cuts with dust, noise and light; coal-fired power stations with dust (both coal and after-combustion), ash residue containing heavy metals, noxious oxides of Sulphur (depending on coal quality) and Nitrogen, and the lesser evils of carbon dioxide and EMF; washeries emit mud and coal dust polluted water; steam using factories similar to power station but to a much smaller extent.

The point is that all these pollutants can be minimized, or at least their effects on the neighbouring areas. Coal is where you find it, power stations require lots of water, and to be as close to the coal and power users as possible. If the people of the area find this intolerable, then hard and unpopular decisions have to be made.

The choice is, does Thailand become a modern industrialized economy where above minimum wages are more than possible, or remain a largely primary producer where minimum wages are inevitable.

BTW some are the complaints are merely frivolous. Coal is not poisonous or toxic (though I wouldn't recommend long-term dust exposure, but dust management is cheap and low-tech). Trucks damage roads - so levy each movement and build better roads, restrict routes and operating hours.

Quietman - land resumptions for large projects are common in every country, and rarely if ever do those whose land was resumed think that they got a fair deal.

.

---- You are correct. But you are not POLITICALLY CORRECT (which trumps all else).----

.

Edited August 1, 2011 by who

[webfact]

MURDER PROBE

Police arrest 3, hunt gunman for killing of coal activist

By The Nation

Court orders stop to coal transports in Samut Sakhon

Police arrested three men yesterday who they said were behind the fatal shooting of an activist who campaigned against coal transporters in Samut Sakhon province.

The arrests came after news that the Central Administrative Court issued an injunction last Friday, ordering the transport of coal and similar activities be halted, following a complaint by residents affected by the operations.

Police were questioning Niphon Yantalapha, 34, and Jakkraphong Khwanphanngarm, 22. They later apprehended Sutchadej Thabkrai, 27, as another suspect, and said they were hunting suspected gunman Yothin Theprian, 25.

A man identified as Ui, 28, had also been implicated by the three suspects. Police said they would begin a search for him once they have a court warrant.

National police chief Wichean Potephosree said the three suspects had confessed to the crime and accused an unnamed businessman in a network of coal transporters as the mastermind who paid them Bt150,000 to kill Thongnak Sawekjinda, 46, last Thursday.

"Police are probing the plot and trying to determine whether there are any other masterminds behind the killing," he said, at a press conference at police headquarters.

Police alleged that Niphon drove Yothin away from the scene in a pickup after he shot Thongnak dead. Jakkraphong was a motorcyclist alleged to have carried Yothin to approach the victim. Ui allegedly acted as a lookout and drove another vehicle to escort Jakkraphong before the shooting and Niphon's pickup afterwards.

The three suspects in custody have been charged with premeditated murder.

Meanwhile, other activists still campaigning against coal transports were under police protection, Wichean said.

The court injunction came after Thongnark and two other activists said the Ta Sai tambon administrative organisation (TAO), plus provincial marine transport and industrial officers were powerless to order Techni Team (Thailand) to tell subcontractors to follow laws in regard to industrial discharge and hazard control, while transporting coal from a pier in Tha Chin River to a warehouse.

The company was ordered by a civil court in Samut Sakhon to cease its unauthorised operations last May, but allegedly continued. Marine transport and regulations officers did not pursue the court order for the company to stop operating. The court was told it still operated coal transports, despite repeated complaints by affected villagers to police, provincial authorities and both offices afterwards.

Despite the company using canvas to cover truck beds and dust particle-size tests, the Central Administrative Court believed the complainants' statement that coal still spilt regularly from trucks and on to roads.

The weight of trucks was damaging roads, while a large number of residents suffered respiratory problems allegedly from coal dust.

The company's tests were later discounted after the complainants proved the devices used in the tests were for larger-sized dust particles, in violation of the Office of National Environment Board's regulations.

-- The Nation 2011-08-02

[RickBradford]

....accused an unnamed businessman in a network of coal transporters as the mastermind who paid them Bt150,000 to kill Thongnak

A useful reminder that life here is cheap, and that casual murder is the standard response if you cause one of these 'unnamed businessmen' to lose face.

[TAWP]

Good on the BiB to capture the people involved.

[webfact]

Activists make sure coal stocks gone

By CHULARAT SAENGPASSA,

MANOP PREUTTHIWARODOM

THE NATION

Samut Sakhon

A team of five interest groups will today inspect the warehouses and storage spaces of four coal traders in Samut Sakhon to prepare for the transport of all of their stock out of the province after residents rose up in protest.

"We'll check the amount of coal at these four companies and work out a plan to move all their coal away," Santi Banterngjit, head of the Samut Sakhon Natural Resources and Environment Office, said yesterday.

The Samut Sakhon governor issued an order to eliminate all coal from the province by July 13 at the peak of the protest against the coal operations.

The protest began to build up three years ago when farmers noticed harmful impacts from coal dust on their fields. Schools, health stations and temples also complained of pollution.

Records show that 500,000 tonnes of coal were brought into the province from October-March - much more than the province consumes.

The team includes officials from Santi's office, locals and representatives of non-governmental organisations.

Five coal distributors are operating in the province - SCG Logistic Management, Mahachai Energy, Unique Mining, Asia Green Energy (AGE) and Technique Team (Thailand).

Santi said Technique Team (Thailand) would not be a target today because the Central Administrative Court has already ordered a suspension of all of its activities pending the court's ruling on the case.

Thongnak Sawekjinda, who was shot dead last Thursday, had lodged the petition against Technique Team (Thailand) with the court, which issued the injunction last Friday.

Chanchai Roongrojsakhon, one of the protest leaders, said his movement had initially hoped to see proper environmental measures put in place for coal operations only.

"But after the death of Thongnak, we plan to rid Samut Sakhon of coal storehouses and piers," he said.

Thongnak was the key force behind the campaign against the coal operators.

The self-confessed mastermind of Thongnak's killing will surrender today, said General Phanuphong Singhara na Ayutthaya, a deputy National Police chief.

Thanayos Wongphim will turn himself in at 11am at Muang Samut Sakhon Police Station, he said, adding that Thanayos had contacted police and admitted to hiring a gang of gunmen to wipe out Thongnak.

Thanayos runs a transport and construction business with many trucks and backhoes. Transporting coal is its main source of revenue, about Bt50,000 a day if fully hired by contractors.

Besides the five suspects in the murder already identified, including three in police custody, another suspect has surfaced, as Phairoj Saengsawang is wanted on an arrest warrant. Phanuphong said he was confident that Phairoj would be caught soon.

Another accomplice, Sitthichoke Nobnom, a village head, met police yesterday to describe the plot to kill the victim. He confessed to receiving money from Thanayos to find a hit squad and coordinate planning.

Sitthichoke has not been charged with any offence since he volunteered to meet police and offered information that Phanuphong said, "was very useful to the police investigation".

Niphon Yantalapha, 34, and Jakkraphong Khwanphanngarm, 22, are being interrogated by police, who later apprehended Sutchadej Thabkrai, 27, as another suspect. Police said they were going after suspected trigger man Yothin Theprian, 25.

Phairoj, 28, or "Ui", acted as a lookout and was driving another vehicle to escort Jakkraphong before the shooting, and Niphon's pickup afterwards. Police said Niphon's vehicle was a black Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck carrying a Bangkok licence plate with the number Thor Thung Ror Rue 4250.

-- The Nation 2011-08-03

[webfact]

Getting rid of coal in Samut Sakhon very difficult

By CHULARAT SAENGPASSA,

MANOP PREUTTHIWARODOM

THE NATION

Samut Sakhon

Chances of Samut Sakhon getting rid of coal in the near future are quite slim despite authorities issuing strict orders to move the fossil fuel and all related products out of the province.

Unique Mining, just one of the many coal traders in Samut Sakhon, reported yesterday it would take up to 21 months to empty its stock of 450,000 tonnes of coal.

In addition, the provincial governor's order to suspend sending shipments of coal from the local piers is going to expire next week, which will allow a lot more coal to be brought into the province again.

"We will explore all legal channels to help Samut Sakhon be free of all coal-related facilities," Stop Global Warming Association president Srisuwan Janya said yesterday.

Since activist Thongnak Sawekjinda was shot dead last week, locals have been expressing stronger opposition against coal-related businesses in their province.

Their movement no longer focuses on the environmental impact, but instead they are seeking to end all coal operations in their province. Srisuwan is an adviser to the movement.

"I think if authorities enforced the laws strictly, conflicts like this would not arise," he said.

He added that under the Town and Country Planning Act, tambon Tha Sai had been declared a green zone and if the laws had been enforced there would be no coal-related businesses in the area.

At present, five groups are trying to enforce the provincial governor's order to move all coal out of Samut Sakhon. The order was issued on July 13.

In a related report, according to Santi Banterngjit, director of the provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, an inspection team had found that Unique Mining had up to 450,000 tonnes of coal in its stock.

The team also found that SCG Logistics Management had 5,000 tonnes, which should be moved out in 20 days, while the 1,400 tonnes in Mahachai Energy's stock should be moved in 10 days.

"Asia Green Energy has 90,000 tonnes of coal, and it should come up with a removal schedule by Monday," Santi said, adding that there were many other coal traders in the province.

Separately, a suspect related to the shooting of activist Thongnak reported to the police yesterday, but denied any wrongdoing. "I've come here to prove my innocence," Thanayos Wongpim, 53, said at the Samut Sakhon police headquarters.

Police have had an arrest warrant issued against Thanayos because they say they have circumstantial evidence that links him to the killing of Thongnak last Thursday.

"It's clear the murder is related to coal-related conflicts," Deputy National Police Commissioner General Pansiri Prapawat said.

Thanayos started trading in coal a few months ago, earning several thousand baht daily.

"My business is not big and I have never had any conflict with Thongnak," he said.

Pansiri, however, said the suspect would be interrogated and his home would be searched again. In addition, the general said that though Thanayos had pleaded not guilty, the evidence against him was quite solid and that most of the other suspects had confessed to the crime.

"Though some of them made partial confessions, their statements are still useful," Pansiri said.

To date, five men have been detained and their bail requests denied because witnesses have complained of intimidation.

Pairoj Saengsawang, another suspect in the shooting, has said he will report to the police today.

-- The Nation 2011-08-04

[Bagwan]

How refreshing that :-

1. No mention is made stating that events such as these will harm Thailand's reputation in the World.

2. Inflation has driven the price of assassination to 150K. In the good old days 10K would have sufficed.

3. Police top brass give priority to having their photographs taken over a day's golf.

4. The law and edicts from those supposed to be running the country are still ignored by wealthy businessmen.

Carry on Thailand. Anarchy rules.

[kokesaat]

While reporting on this news yesterday, one of the Thai channels showed photos ??of some of the mining operations?? Does anyone have a link for an online (perhaps ngo) article that shows the same?

[who]

A real Thai hero.

---- I would guess that the coal is used in the production of electricity. A partial solution to the problem could be to stop producing the coal. Stop producing the electricity. And turn off the power to the province ----

.

[Buchholz]

MURDER PROBE

Police arrest 3, hunt gunman for killing of coal activist

By The Nation

Court orders stop to coal transports in Samut Sakhon

Police arrested three men yesterday who they said were behind the fatal shooting of an activist who campaigned against coal transporters in Samut Sakhon province.

The arrests came after news that the Central Administrative Court issued an injunction last Friday, ordering the transport of coal and similar activities be halted, following a complaint by residents affected by the operations.

Police were questioning Niphon Yantalapha, 34, and Jakkraphong Khwanphanngarm, 22. They later apprehended Sutchadej Thabkrai, 27, as another suspect, and said they were hunting suspected gunman Yothin Theprian, 25.

One of the alleged murderers, Sutchadej, was himself, murdered today

Murder suspect killed on his way to court

A murder suspect heading to the court trial was shot dead in downtown Samut Sakhon's Muang district Thurday morning.

Police suspected he was killed because some people feared he would reveal the murder mastermind's name.

On his way to testify about the Mahachai anti-coal activist Thongnak Sawekjinda's murder, the suspect Sutchadech Thabkrai, 28, was shot while waiting for a green light at an intersection in front of Tisco Bank, only 100 meters away from the Muang Samut Sakhon police station.

It was reported the group of gunmen drove the same pickup truck used in the assassination of Thongnak.

-- The Nation 2012-05-03

Edited May 3, 2012 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

Murder suspect shot dead before court trial

A murder suspect heading to a court trial was shot dead in downtown Samut Sakhon's Muang district yesterday morning.

Police suspect he was killed in a "hush killing" to prevent him from revealing a murder mastermind, or he may have died over illegal activities or some personal conflict.

The 28-year-old suspect, Sutchadech Thabkrai, was on his way to testify in court about the killing of Mahachai anti-coal activist Thongnak Sawekjinda. He was shot dead in front of Tisco Bank, only 100 metres from the Muang Samut Sakhon police station.

It was reported Sutchadech's killers might have been in the same pickup truck involved in the Thongnak murder.

Following the 11am shooting report, police found the body of Sutchadech, riddled with 10 gunshots to his head, face and upper body, in his Isuzu pickup truck. They collected 10 spent bullets from inside the vehicle.

Police investigation found that while Sutchadech was waiting for a green light at an intersection, a black Mitsubishi pickup truck stopped next to his and the gunmen opened fire. One jumped out to shoot him at close range before hopping back onto the truck which sped away on Mahachai Road towards Rama II Road.

Police are checking security cameras for images of the suspects, said Samut Sakhon police investigator Pol Colonel Chomchawin Purathananon.

Sutchadech was reportedly involved in the killing of Thongnak, working as the target identifier and procurer of a gun.

Police announced the arrest of Sutchadech and three other men, including the gunman, in early August, 2011. They subsequently issued an arrest warrant for coal transport operator Thanayos Wongpim, who was accused as a hirer and later turned himself in.

The murder of Thongnak attracted wide publicity because of his conservation activities. Thongnak was fatally shot by two gunmen on a motorcycle in front of his house in Tha Sai subdistrict of Samut Sakhon's Muang district and was pronounced dead at a hospital on July 28, 2011.

Police, as well as Thongnak's wife Jomkwan Sawekjinda and many local people, suspect the shooting was motivated by Thongnak's long protest against a coal transportation project in the sub-district.

Only days before his death,Thongnak led a road blockade protest which resulted in authorities announcing a temporary suspension of coal transportation in the area. However, the transportation went on secretly until Thongnak and other demonstrators ambushed the coal trucks and sent details to the police.

A day before his death, Thongnak went before the Administrative Court to testify and give more information against a coal company. His wife said he received many death threats.

-- The Nation 2012-05-04