Loei: Gold mining firm agrees to drop lawsuits

[webfact]

Gold mining firm agrees to drop lawsuits
Boonchu Sritraipop,
Wasu Vipoosanapat,
Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation



Two suspects indicted over Loei assault case

LOEI: -- VILLAGERS protesting against the gold mine in Wang Saphung district in Loei province will not face civil lawsuits by Thung Kham Ltd, and it looks likely that criminal cases against them will also be dropped.

Meanwhile, two suspects have been indicted in the case in which 200 men assaulted villagers who blocked a nearby road on May 15.

At the Loei City Hall yesterday, a lawyer for the villagers talked with Thung Kham representative Wichit Chiamwichitkun, an executive from Tongkah Harbour, about the civil lawsuits seeking Bt120 million from 33 protesting villagers.

The talk was witnessed by Loei governor Viroj Jivarangsan, Loei Army commander Maj-General Thalerngsak Pulsuwan, Loei police chief Pol Maj General Sakda Wongsiriyanont and Loei prosecutor Wachira Phromthes.

The discussion led to Thung Kham agreeing to drop all civil lawsuits and asking for a chance to talk with villagers to try to reach a better understanding with them.

Wachira later commented that all levels were inclined to not sue protesting villagers in criminal cases, in an effort to end the row and bring about reconciliation.

Meanwhile, the National Humans Rights Commission (NHRC) subcommittee on community rights is acting on a complaint about the Mineral Bill.

Yesterday, the subcommittee's chairman and NHRC commissioner Niran Pitakwatchara met with representatives of people who have opposed the bill on suspicion it will violate people's rights and some laws.

These people come from Phichit, Phitsanulok, Saraburi, Lop Buri, Phetchabun provinces.

"A gold mine in Phichit province has posed a health threat," villager Seukanya Thirachartdamrong said.

She said blood tests conducted on more than 300 people living near the gold mine reveal that their blood is contaminated by heavy metals.

"We are worried most about children," Seukanya said. She said Central Institute of Forensic Science director general Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan had arranged the tests.

Niran said his subcommittee might consider asking for more information from Porntip.

He said the subcommittee would also contact the Council of State to ask it to listen to people who feel the new draft law could adversely affect their lives when it is enforced.

Cabinet approved the Mineral Bill on October 21. The Council of State is in the process of reviewing it.

"We will also summarise people's concerns and submit our report to the government as well as the National Legislative Assembly," Niran said.

He believed the draft law should be totally revised, because it did not cover "public engagement" aspects.

Chat Hongtiamchant, deputy head of the Department of Primary Industry and Mines, said drafters of the bill had already taken people's opinions into account.

"The bill, when enacted, will also require the establishment of a fund for rehabilitation of old mining areas," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Gold-mining-firm-agrees-to-drop-lawsuits-30249037.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-03

[aussieinthailand]

Names of the owners of the mine, the director and all those sitting on the board, then all stake holders and people with shares in the company to be made very public, then see what happens as they will not like this info in the public arena if the mining company is doing the wrong thing to people and the environment.

Then testing of peoples health and medical bills paid for and lost salary's paid for, then any and all environmental damage addressed and then and only then should they be heavily monitored and re-open the mine, and all results also to be made very public and any breach should result in massive fines and a loss in license for mining in the future.

Edited December 3, 2014 by aussieinthailand

[DeepInTheForest]

A sloppy, criminal operation. There was a tailings pond whose walls collapsed three times-- it held cyanide. http://isaanrecord.com/category/loei/

The levels of heavy metals in the villagers' systems have been shown to be extremely high, and pose serious threat to the health of these individuals. They've been getting sick since 2004 when the mine began operations.

On February 2 of this year, the ministry published that 124 of 725 villagers had high levels of cyanide in their blood and 50 of 708 villagers had high levels of mercury.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/122833/thailand-gold-mine-protest-violence/

The land has been laid to waste. No objective environmental impact study was done. The suffering will go on for decades, even generations. All this for a mine that will close in five years, so that the owner(s) can go into Laos and assumedly poison the locals in that country.

"In October last year, a Tungkum executive was quoted as saying the gold mine “will shut down within five years”and move across border to Laos, even if it was given permission to expand."

http://asiancorrespondent.com/122833/thailand-gold-mine-protest-violence/

You have to hand it to the villagers. They stood up and defended themselves and their place. They've been fighting the mine since 2006. You have to ask yourself if you would do the same. There was an incident where scores of masked men descended upon their protest and beat them with iron rods.

Tungkum Limited, which has been in hot water with its shareholders and the Stock Exchange of Thailand over the past year for alleged financial mismanagement, now has more to worry about.

http://isaanrecord.com/category/loei/

One would certainly hope so. On the other hand, why worry? The mining company has obtained a concession to mine on 230,000 rai in Xiangkhoang province in Laos. They can pack up, move on, and leave the locals to do the worrying.

Edited December 3, 2014 by DeepInTheForest

[expat_4_life]

A sloppy, criminal operation. There was a tailings pond whose walls collapsed three times-- it held cyanide. http://isaanrecord.com/category/loei/

The levels of heavy metals in the villagers' systems have been shown to be extremely high, and pose serious threat to the health of these individuals. They've been getting sick since 2004 when the mine began operations.

On February 2 of this year, the ministry published that 124 of 725 villagers had high levels of cyanide in their blood and 50 of 708 villagers had high levels of mercury.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/122833/thailand-gold-mine-protest-violence/

The land has been laid to waste. No objective environmental impact study was done. The suffering will go on for decades, even generations. All this for a mine that will close in five years, so that the owner(s) can go into Laos and assumedly poison the locals in that country.

"In October last year, a Tungkum executive was quoted as saying the gold mine “will shut down within five years”and move across border to Laos, even if it was given permission to expand."

http://asiancorrespondent.com/122833/thailand-gold-mine-protest-violence/

You have to hand it to the villagers. They stood up and defended themselves and their place. They've been fighting the mine since 2006. You have to ask yourself if you would do the same. There was an incident where scores of masked men descended upon their protest and beat them with iron rods.

Tungkum Limited, which has been in hot water with its shareholders and the Stock Exchange of Thailand over the past year for alleged financial mismanagement, now has more to worry about.

http://isaanrecord.com/category/loei/

One would certainly hope so. On the other hand, why worry? The mining company has obtained a concession to mine on 230,000 rai in Xiangkhoang province in Laos. They can pack up, move on, and leave the locals to do the worrying.

@DeepinTheForest

Excellent summary and opinion on these crooks and of how events have unfolded.

The time for legal reform is long overdue - yet another abuse of the defamation laws in Thailand in an attempt to silence the victims.

UN 'seriously concerned' about criminal defamation against Loei human rights defenders. (31 Oct 14)

http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/4458

Edited December 3, 2014 by expat_4_life

[Somtamnication]

Well, the other side of the coin, it means that mob rule won. Anyone can get 300 people to protest, close down factories, roads and get away with it. Surreal.

[chainarong]

In most good countries the mines inspectors would be paying monthly (Regular) visits to all mining companies ensuring that the mines regulations are being adhered to and have the power to stop, penalise and prosecute any violation of the mining act in association with the crown law department , same goes for the environmental department inspectors , Thailand obviously has another system, like in most things of this nature. Then again you might wake up dead or even disappear.

[ChrisY1]

Well, the other side of the coin, it means that mob rule won. Anyone can get 300 people to protest, close down factories, roads and get away with it. Surreal.

Stupid post....people have the right of protest almost anywhere ......

And when their health is at stake due to improper mining operations, then they have even more right to protest

[Bluespunk]

Did the firm also agree to stop polluting the environment and poisoning the local population?

[Acharn]

In most good countries the mines inspectors would be paying monthly (Regular) visits to all mining companies ensuring that the mines regulations are being adhered to and have the power to stop, penalise and prosecute any violation of the mining act in association with the crown law department , same goes for the environmental department inspectors , Thailand obviously has another system, like in most things of this nature. Then again you might wake up dead or even disappear.

Errrmmm... That would be in what countries? Certainly not in the U.S., and I've been reading recently that gold mining operations in most countries are ecological disasters. In the U.S. no government agency has authority to enforce safety laws on coal mines, for example, although when the inevitable mass death of miners occurs the record of violations might lead to criminal charges. Maybe.

[Acharn]

Well, the other side of the coin, it means that mob rule won. Anyone can get 300 people to protest, close down factories, roads and get away with it. Surreal.

Stupid post....people have the right of protest almost anywhere ......

And when their health is at stake due to improper mining operations, then they have even more right to protest

Well, that has to be balanced against the fact that a member of the NCPO was the "head of security" for the mining company. We wouldn't want to sully their reputation.

[kaorop]

on the other side of the coin

guess the protestors were the local villages without the enforced well paid, cushy, hard to fire,

jobs who sleep thru nightshifts and dont follow company H&S regulations causing some of the problems

ngos go everywhere stirring up trouble and mis-leading locals

yes mining is dirty business, and you object?

then please dispose of your dumbass phone, computer, car, motorcycle, washing machine, fridge, tv, music system, house wirering etc etc etc etc whos copper wires and traces, steel, aluminum and rare earth minerals all came from where?

funny how its so easy to be hypocritical

[Tuskfish]

Well, the other side of the coin, it means that mob rule won. Anyone can get 300 people to protest, close down factories, roads and get away with it. Surreal.

Stupid post....people have the right of protest almost anywhere ......

And when their health is at stake due to improper mining operations, then they have even more right to protest

Absolutely agree

I only wish the Australian Government agreed also

[Krataiboy]

Well, the other side of the coin, it means that mob rule won. Anyone can get 300 people to protest, close down factories, roads and get away with it. Surreal.

If your children had been poisoned with cyanide and your attempts to seek retribution were met with violence and the threat of legal action for defamation, what would you do? Run? That's not what the patron saint whose flag you purloined as an avatar did when faced by a dragon. The action of these protesters has nothing to do with "mob rule" and St George would have admired their courage and fortitude in the face of a formidable and unscrupulous foe.

[DeepInTheForest]

[edited]

[edited]

The time for legal reform is long overdue - yet another abuse of the defamation laws in Thailand in an attempt to silence the victims.

UN 'seriously concerned' about criminal defamation against Loei human rights defenders. (31 Oct 14)

http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/4458

Excellent link, expat_4_life. A worthy read on the use of "criminal defamation" as a tool to suppress free speech and bully those who are not high rollers.