Thailand's NLA passes new mining bill

[webfact]

NLA passes new mining bill



BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly today (Thursday) passed the new mining bill by 148 votes against one opposition.

The bill, in essence, empowers the state to manage mining operations for utmost benefits to the country and its people by taking into consideration economic and social development and environmental and health impacts.

Under the bill, the Minstry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Industry Ministry will jointly work out mining management master plan which will cover such activities as mining survey, ore deposit reserves, classification of mining areas and areas where mining activities are banned.

During the debate on the bill, Mr Wallop Tangkananurak said he supported the new mining bill because the country has had bad experiences of mining activities, citing the Klity and Pilok mines in Kanchanaburi which have threatened the livelihood of the local Karen people and the gold mine in Phichit province which has affected people living in close vicinity to the mine site.

Another NLA member, Mr Sanit Aksornkaew, said the two mining committees to be set up as required by the law are not sufficient. He suggested that more governmental units should get involved among them the Pollution Control Department, the Fishery Department, the Public Health Ministry and the Defence Ministry.

Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang told the assembly that extension of the concession contract for gold mining in Phichit province is pending studies from various parties concerned regarding impacts from mining activities.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/155595


-- Thai PBS 2016-03-18

[bangkokfrog]

The bill, in essence, empowers the state to manage mining operations...

Very worrying. Is this a step towards nationalization of the mining industry? Do they expect mining companies to continue to invest when the trusty government can step in at anytime to "help" them run the mines? More importantly, is this a sign of things to come? We can't control this industry by enforcing legislation, so let's take it over!

[tbthailand]

given the junta's history on all environmental vs business issues, even with the sparse, sparse sparse clues in this report, it can be assumed that the rubber-stampers just passed another law that will allow the government to run roughshod over local communities and ignore any and all environmental issues that they chose.

[rickirs]

given the junta's history on all environmental vs business issues, even with the sparse, sparse sparse clues in this report, it can be assumed that the rubber-stampers just passed another law that will allow the government to run roughshod over local communities and ignore any and all environmental issues that they chose.

No need to worry about rubber-stampers for the government in the future.

If the Meechai 2016 draft charter is endorsed, individuals and communities will not have the right to conserve a healthy environment as was provided in the 2007 Constitution. The 2007 Constitution enabled individuals and communities to petition directly to the court over health and environmental issues. In fact several government projects were stopped by court petitions. Under the 2016 draft the government is only required to perform due diligence by whatever parameters it decides and direct petition to the courts is taken away.

[rickirs]

148 votes against one or 149 members present

The 200-member NLA absentees have hit a new time LOW ... 51 members unaccounted for or about 26% of the parliament !

[docshock13]

License to plunder.