Brown out Samui

[webfact]

Rights body to hear SEZ land seizure concerns
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will summon affected villagers and relevant officials early next month to discuss the proposed seizure of 3,015 rai of forestland on the banks of the Ing River in tambon Boonreung for Chiang Rai's Chiang Khong Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Saying the NHRC's subcommittee on community rights had received villagers' complaints about the forestland seizure, the head of the sub-panel, Niran Pitakwatchara, insisted: "If the villagers have been living in the area for generations, they should have the right to protect their forestland from any project threatening their [livelihoods]."

The villagers said they want the forest to be managed by the community.

Meanwhile, Boonreung residents attended a public forum yesterday about the seizure, which they claimed violated the community's rights, said Thanom Utama, president of the Ing River Basin People's Council. The villagers were also concerned about environmental impacts including air pollution, water mismanagement and soil pollution that could stem from an industrial estate as part of the SEZ.

"The villagers will not allow anyone to cut down our 500-year-old forest," Thanom said, adding that he thought an industrial estate was not suitable there.

Resident Pichetpong Kurupra-chayamak said local people had joined the forum because they needed to hear explanations from the government about the SEZ and wanted assurance that there would be no industrial factories.

However, Sa-nguan Sornklin-sakul, vice president of the Chiang Rai Chamber of Commerce, said the SEZ would definitely have factories, but they would be for light industries and would focus on trade within the Asean region.

He said local people would also be invited to propose their valued opinions about the benefits their community was entitled to from the SEZ.

After the forum, Chiang Khong district chief Sakchai Wongkanit told The Nation via phone that the event was aimed at ensuring that local people understood the situation and could air their concerns. "For now, only people in tambon Boonrung would reject the SEZ, if it came with heavy industry," he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Rights-body-to-hear-SEZ-land-seizure-concerns-30268511.html

-- The Nation 2015-09-10

[FangFerang]

Another news bite that the junta cheerleaders cannot comment on because they have nothing to say that can possibly spin correctly.

Ah, the sound of silence.....

[bamnutsak]

Another news bite that the junta cheerleaders cannot comment on because they have nothing to say that can possibly spin correctly.

The Junta fantards here haven't had much to cheer since May, 2014. I think they have hung up their pom-poms, skirts and sweaters.