Villagers near Loei mine hit by health woes

[webfact]

ENVIRONMENT
Villagers near mine hit by health woes
Tanpisit Lerdbamrungchai
The Nation


This sign, in Wang Saphung district in Loei

People in Loei fear a gold mine has contaminated local rivers with cyanide and heavy metals

BANGKOK: -- Eight years after a gold mine opened in Loei's Wang Saphung district, people there continue to have grave concerns about the health and environmental threats posed by its operation. A prominent academic, meanwhile, has said that efforts to address these issues have only been partly successful.

For years, residents from the six villages in Tambon Khao Luang have joined together to spearhead the Khon Rak Ban Kerd Group, an anti-mining collective, to protest against Thung Kham Ltd Co's mining and mineral surveying in the area. They claim that the company's activities create pollution and destroy ecosystems.

They allege that they can no longer eat home-grown produce and need to buy drinking water due to environmental damage wreaked by mining.

With plentiful minerals, the northeast province of Loei has caught the attention of a host of investors looking to capitalise on its rich resources. This has led to disputes and even violence. In the latest disturbance on May 15, protesting residents claimed they were attacked by more than 100 armed and masked men. They say they are now living in fear due to the incident.

Khan Jutano, 56, said her husband Suwat, 61, used to be a strong farmer who could single-handedly build a house. "We ate rice that we grew ourselves, ate local fish and drank creek water," she said, adding that such lifestyle continued after the mine existed until Suwat got sick, reportedly from cyanide contamination. "He developed muscle pain in 2007 and a Muang Loei Hospital doctor said it was a nerve disease," she added.

Blood tests conducted by the provincial health office on residents near the mine found that Suwat's blood contained 0.55 microgram/milligram of cyanide, well beyond a safe level of 0.2 microgram. By 2013, Suwat had leg muscle atrophy and was unable to walk. Fortunately their rubber-taper son supported them. "Or else we would starve because everything needs to be bought, including drinking water," Khan said.

Animals dying mysteriously

Ban Kok Sathon resident Pan Kaengjampa, 80, had dozens of beautiful silk skirts to remind her of her glorious past as the village's best weaver.

Now she can't walk since her body weakened in 2012 as an alleged consequence of cyanide contamination. The villagers believe that cyanide leaked from a disposal pool into a natural creek from which villagers drank and caught fish, crabs or clams for meal.

"The doctor told me I had a nerve disease, but refused to write it down," said Pan. "I personally believe the minerals contributed to my symptoms."

In 2007 local residents started to complain of rashes, eye irritation and chest tightness.

Two years later, Loei health office warned residents not to use water from Huai Phuk, Huai Lhek or underground water due to heavy metal contamination.

Blood tests conducted in 2010 showed that residents in six villages around the mine had high levels of cyanide, lead and mercury in their blood while fish, chicken and dogs kept dying mysteriously. In 2012, at least three people - including Pan - had symptoms of muscle weakness, atrophy, and nerve disorder.

There were also adverse affects to farming. Liang Phromsopa, 61, a farmer, claimed that 30-40 sacks of rice were once harvested from each rice field compared to the current total of nine sacks per field.

Chulalongkorn University social academic Somporn Pengkham said water quality tests started finding cyanide in the creek water after the mine began operating. In 2006, the situation worsened with the soil found to be contaminated by chemicals and the discovery of cyanide, manganese and arsenic in the water. A team assigned by the provincial governor to investigate the issue could not decide what to do with the cyanide. Although some residents were by now being found to have these potentially lethal contaminants in their blood, the absence of a systematic approach to tackling the problem by state agencies meant that the problem remains.

While refraining from saying that the cyanide came from the mine, Somporn said that it was essential that the facility should be studied. "What is important is that the villagers are sick," she said. "Therefore authorities must step in and take care of the people."

Somporn also urged people in Loei not to ignore the issue. She reminded them that creeks such as Huai Lhek, Huai Din Dam and Huai Liang Kwai eventually reached the Loei and Mekong rivers. Therefore it was quite possible that cyanide and heavy metal contamination might have already moved beyond the six villages.

Although the mine is now closed, pollution and sickness - for which the authorities have not held anyone responsible - may remain for a long time and require a lot of tax money to fix.

Somporn concluded by saying that solutions to tackling the after effects of contamination would remain elusive as long as state agencies remain indifferent to the issue.


-- The Nation 2014-06-02

[rebelplatoon]

Another ruthless abuse of mother earth without any concern for anything or anybody.

[Emptyset]

Sickening. Best of luck to these villagers in their fight for justice.

[ChrisY1]

Cyanide leaching, while commonly used in gold mining...the precautions and environmental aspects of this method, must be strictly controlled in a developed country.....who knows what's happening up there in Loei??

These peoples ill health are, most likely, directly related to this mine.....it's a disgrace and highlights the complacency some people have for others health and wellbeing.....all for money!

C'mon army.....get people up there and sort this.....

[aussieinthailand]

Villagers told not to ignore the problem, and that it will take a lot of tax money to fix the problem, WHAT THE???

It's the government agencies that have been ignoring the problem!!! Not the villagers.

And why should TAX money be used to fix the problem instead of the mining company and it's CEO and directors pay for the damage and clean up then fully prosecuted!!! as well as the government employees for their complicity in this serious issue, and force them and to drink the water.

And lastly doctors refusing to write down diagnosis for patients,, that's not the first time I've heard of this where their are company's involved in pollution of an area and the people.

[GoodThaiGirl]

i think its time for a bit of military intervention.please..

[Emptyset]

i think its time for a bit of military intervention.please..

Yes, although the armed men mentioned in the report were said to be lead by a military officer. Hopefully for the villagers sake he doesn't have ties to the powers that be.

[shirtless]

Never stand between the elite and a easy baht, this seems to be the case the world over .

Edited June 2, 2014 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[Dogmatix]

i think its time for a bit of military intervention.please..

I was under the impression that the military had already intervened decisively by turning a blind eye to a senior army officer leading the gang of 100 masked men. Or was that another gold mine in Loei?

[Lupatria]

Nerve disease? I wish they would take the company paid 'doctor' for a looong dip in the river and make him eat a basket of salad grown on the local soil.

[oneday]

Pretty simple to find the cause and fix it if the government had the will.

Go in and inspect the mining operation's procedures, test the river for cyanide and other contaminates. It would seem pretty simple to lay blame where it belongs if the river is contaminated. If it is contaminated then issue a stop order until all problems are fixed and extract a very heavy penalty paid to the villagers and threaten with closure if the problem is not solved so it would require a followup investigation or two or three.

[stevehaigh]

i wonder how much food from these areas makes it into the general food supply in your local market or tesco?

[mok199]

the lack of respect ''thais''show for this planet is sad,..i know water pollution happens every where,but i am talking about waste and abuse in general,enter the plastic bag...they just cant seem to understand..it is possible to eat,with out putting the food in a plastic bag then into another plastic bag''....this is about education and i am trying to educate my familly but they just practise it when i am standing there..''.please daddy'' or ''please the one who feeds you''....but when they are alone, i know i have seen..it is back to the plastic bag......which makes me think it must be laziness,as i have showed them landfills,we talk about how we can all do a part,and they seem to agree..and just when i think i am finally getting through...i am yet again disapointed by thai's....

[supaprik]

Pretty simple to find the cause and fix it if the government had the will.

Go in and inspect the mining operation's procedures, test the river for cyanide and other contaminates. It would seem pretty simple to lay blame where it belongs if the river is contaminated. If it is contaminated then issue a stop order until all problems are fixed and extract a very heavy penalty paid to the villagers and threaten with closure if the problem is not solved so it would require a followup investigation or two or three.

FYI..."Although the mine is now closed, pollution and sickness - for which the authorities have not held anyone responsible - may remain for a long time and require a lot of tax money to fix."

[chainarong]

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the lack of respect ''thais''show for this planet is sad,..i know water pollution happens every where,but i am talking about waste and abuse in general,enter the plastic bag...they just cant seem to understand..it is possible to eat,with out putting the food in a plastic bag then into another plastic bag''....this is about education and i am trying to educate my familly but they just practise it when i am standing there..''.please daddy'' or ''please the one who feeds you''....but when they are alone, i know i have seen..it is back to the plastic bag......which makes me think it must be laziness,as i have showed them landfills,we talk about how we can all do a part,and they seem to agree..and just when i think i am finally getting through...i am yet again disapointed by thai's....

Thai's are not alone , someone commented once, Asians cannot see filth, from Indonesia to top end of the Himalaya's, all you will see is rubbish

[Eric Loh]

i think its time for a bit of military intervention.please..

I was under the impression that the military had already intervened decisively by turning a blind eye to a senior army officer leading the gang of 100 masked men. Or was that another gold mine in Loei?

Throw in military reform as one of the key must do reform. Corruption is not exclusive.

[chainarong]

These issues need to be addressed by the Environment , Health and Mines departments and charges laid accordingly, anything other than this is a desecration of duty by these departments and they should be dealt with by the new government.

[SOTIRIOS]

Villagers told not to ignore the problem, and that it will take a lot of tax money to fix the problem, WHAT THE???

It's the government agencies that have been ignoring the problem!!! Not the villagers.

And why should TAX money be used to fix the problem instead of the mining company and it's CEO and directors pay for the damage and clean up then fully prosecuted!!! as well as the government employees for their complicity in this serious issue, and force them and to drink the water.

And lastly doctors refusing to write down diagnosis for patients,, that's not the first time I've heard of this where their are company's involved in pollution of an area and the people.

...it's like they expect and hope that the villagers will move or die off....

[xavierr]

A mine fouls up the environment. The people living near it suffer. The poisonous effects will linger even after the company's bigwigs have spent their earnings. The cleanup will be even more costly than those paltry earnings. I don't know why such things are allowed. What are the priorities in a nation?

Edited June 2, 2014 by xavierr

[ggt]

If there was a gov't oversight committee...they would be paid by the mining companies to look the other way...sad day for the people living around Loei...

[empireboy]

Invite the Mine Directors for a round table televised discussion over lunch. Serve them local food and water and see if they are hungry! Pictures speak a thousand words!!

[empireboy]

A mine fouls up the environment. The people living near it suffer. The poisonous effects will linger even after the company's bigwigs have spent their earnings. The cleanup will be even more costly than those paltry earnings. I don't know why such things are allowed. What are the priorities in a nation?

IF actions speak louder than words, the priorities are clear! (and abysmal!)

[lomatopo]

i think its time for a bit of military intervention.please..

You might want to be careful as you appear to be calling for illegal activity.

I'm guessing you are not aware which structured, government-backed organization is currently backing the mine owners?

[BudRight]

No probleeeeem. Fix tomorooooow.

[belg]

this should be spread all over the news, every hour, that would be more usefull than the other stuff they show daily / hourly ...

and they can add, that buring your garbage, specially plastics and others, contribute to a poison invironment

FOR EVERYBODY

[ABCer]

Q1. Who owns the mine?

Q2. What urgent measures were taken so far by appropriate authorities?

Answers (multiple choice):

A1. Foreigners.

A2. Thais.

A3. None. No orders were made against the Mining Co.

A4. Mining Co was fined 6,000 Bt

A5. Mining Co was closed and the owners cannot be found.

A6. Mining Co was ordered to close but is operating.

A7. Mining Co was ordered to clean up the mess.

A8. Order to clean up does not specify the affected area.

A9. Mining Co has no funds to comply with any orders.

A10. Owners of Mining Co are outside Thailand and orders cannot be enforced.

A11. This river falls into the sea.

A12. This river falls into another (bigger?) river.

A13. There are no more villages affected by this contaminated water.

A14. Downstream of this river water is not used for irrigation.

A15. "Loei Crystal" is a drinking water brand using the water from this river.

Please tick any number of Answers you think are suitable.

Edited June 2, 2014 by ABCer

[ABCer]

this should be spread all over the news, every hour, that would be more usefull than the other stuff they show daily / hourly ...

and they can add, that buring your garbage, specially plastics and others, contribute to a poison invironment

FOR EVERYBODY

belg, this isn't Belgium.

Besides, "Erin Brockovich" was already made once. Don't ask for too much.

[monkeycountry]

"There were also adverse affects to farming. Liang Phromsopa, 61, a farmer, claimed that 30-40 sacks of rice were once harvested from each rice field compared to the current total of nine sacks per field."

While I do feel sorry for the villagers, and hope they can find a solution, the villagers do not seem too worried about selling contaminated rice to others.

[wvavin]

One simple question. Why did the mine allow to operate for so many years in the first place? Even the health authority staffs knew about this but I reckoned there was nothing they could do because of the very strong unseen force behind this business. It is really sad to see innocent country folks suffering quietly without getting serious help.

[makkam]

The senior 'officers' of this company need to be prosecuted as murderers. They are no better than some of the despots that go around murdering innocents in places like Liberia, Southern Sudan.

Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of mining would know what they have done is homicide, and worst of all it is a long slow death. At least the butchers I mentioned above were killing people on the spot.

It's a disgrace and a total shame on Thailand if the perpetrators aren't put on the stand and shown to the world for what they are.

No doubt they were giving out tea money left right and centre