Jump to content








Akara denies blame for death but helps ex-worker's family


Lite Beer

Recommended Posts

Akara denies blame for death but helps ex-worker's family
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- MINING company Akara Resources has provided financial support to the family of a former employee who suffered from a fatal neurological disease. Akara Resources, in a statement released on Friday, stated that it paid Somkid Thampawet's family Bt453,014 as a result of the illness that killed him.

The company indicated that it took care of Somkid and claimed that his illness was not connected to his former position - mixing cyanide.

"There is no evidence to suggest his employment at Akara resulted in Somkid Thampawet being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Akara Resources welcomes proper scientific testing to determine the cause of his passing," the company said in its letter.

Akara Resources said that it properly assisted Somkid with financial aid during his treatment. It said that after he fell sick and stopped working in April 2014, it paid him his full salary until his retirement was effective in August 2014.

During this time Akara said it also covered all of his medical bills.

The company said he also received the full retirement package rather than the physical retirement package and Bt7,000 to cover his medication.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Akara-denies-blame-for-death-but-helps-ex-workers--30268685.html

nationlogo.jpg
-- The Nation 2015-09-13

Link to comment
Share on other sites


"The company indicated that it took care of Somkid and claimed that his illness was not connected to his former position - mixing cyanide."

Of course not. Mixing cyanide is completely harmless. Everyone in corporate knows that.

Edited by Bluespunk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

"The company indicated that it took care of Somkid and claimed that his illness was not connected to his former position - mixing cyanide."

Of course not. Mixing cyanide is completely harmless. Everyone in corporate knows that.

Err cyanide wouldnt cause the neurological illness the guy had, pissing around with heavy metals such as mercury might, so how sure are you that Somkid was not messing around with some "side line" metal extraction using mercury ? Big mining companies dont mess with mercury extraction anymore, but " free agents" do ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"There is no evidence to suggest his employment at Akara resulted in Somkid Thampawet being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis"

They might well be right in this instance!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in their Draft document Toxicological Profile for Cyande (August, 1995) say on page 98, that (according to Kato et al 1985), "Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis possess a disorder in cyanide metabolism that may result in higher susceptibilty to cyanide". They go on to say that "No studies were located regarding the effects of cyanide exposure in humans or animals following any route of exposure. Therefore, no mechanism of carcinogenesis can be discussed" - the Kato reference is Kato T, Kameyama M, Nakamura S, et al., 1985, Cyanide metabolism in motor neuron disease, Acta Neurol Scand, 72:151-155.

That said, Akara may still need to take responsibility for the health of other people affected by its operations in Thailand, if the Syndey Morning Herald (http://www.smh.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/thailand-shuts-down-australian-gold-mine-over-health-fears-20150114-12nrfd.html) and Mining.Com (http://www.mining.com/thai-gold-mine-said-poisoned-locals-allowed-reopen-91832/) articles are correct.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Akara has a social responsibility to it's workers and the community, one wonders whether the mixing of cyanide done in Thailand and mixing of cyanide in Akara's sister company's country would pass muster , , both international and local companies have demonstrated a callous disregard for both villagers and the environment in Thailand over the years and as I have called for before ( Mark ) the Mines, Environment and Health departments need to come up to international standards , strengthen the regulations, rules and authority, so prosecutions and show cause notices can be issued. coffee1.gif

Edited by chainarong
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well I did an environmental audit on this mine about 10 years ago and it met all the standards of any mine in the world in terms of cyanide handling/mixing/storing.

Sorry to say....they aren't at fault for this.

Sorry to say but 10 years ago is a long time and as we all know, planned audits never show "normal" operating procedure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...