Villagers stage protest march against the renewal of gold mining concession in Phichit

[webfact]

Villagers stage protest march against the renewal of gold mining concession in Phichit

PHICHIT: -- A group of villagers whose livelihoods are affected by gold mining operations in Phitsanuloke province staged a protest march on Monday to Phichit province where they plan to petition the governor to stop renewing the mining concession.

Mr Anant Wilairith, a coordinator of Noen Maprang environment protection group in Phitsanuloke province, said that the mining concession of the Akara Resources Company is due to expire on May 13 and his group didn’t want the government to renew the concession for the company.

The company has been mining for gold at Ban Khao More in Tambon Khao Jed Look, Tap Klor district of Phichit.

The group claimed that waste water laced with cyanide had seeped into the ground from a huge pond poisoning the source of underground water of Noen Maprang and damaging their crops. About 400 villagers have been tested with high content of arsenic in their blood.

Anant said he was afraid that mining company’s concession issue might be raised for discussion at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. He added that his group’s protest march was intended to send a message to authorities concerned that the affected villagers don’t want the concession to be renewed.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/162610


-- Thai PBS 2016-05-10

[Chao Lao Beach]

This Aust company is getting a lot of flack back home for their treatment of "poor" villages.

[bino]

This Aust company is getting a lot of flack back home for their treatment of "poor" villages.

Good.

[colinneil]

Sorry to say it, but these poor villagers have no chance.

Big business, big brown envelopes will win every time.

[chainarong]

This Aust company is getting a lot of flack back home for their treatment of "poor" villages.

The Australian sister company is Kingstream and they are not getting any flack at home , the Company concerned Akara is run by Thai's for Thai's ,their is no Australian management team in Thailand and hasn't been for sometime.

[chainarong]

There needs to be a balanced outlook on this case, as the villagers are blaming the Akara mine company for health issues , and the Thai health department are saying that this is not so, now whether one is right or wrong their needs to be an outside investigation into this , as it is a nasty atmosphere in Phichit, also villagers are obligated not to stop progress, because you can't, however a call to either the Australian or North American mining and health fraternity to carry out independent testing , from both Kingstream and Akar's view , wouldn't go astray and put this issue to rest once and for all. ........................................

[fxe1200]

"About 400 villagers have been tested with high content of arsenic in their blood." This is attempted murder or malicious injury, or both, and should be punished accordingly.

[gandalf12]

"About 400 villagers have been tested with high content of arsenic in their blood." This is attempted murder or malicious injury, or both, and should be punished accordingly.

Arsenic is used in the processing or raw gold ore

[fxe1200]

"About 400 villagers have been tested with high content of arsenic in their blood." This is attempted murder or malicious injury, or both, and should be punished accordingly.

Arsenic is used in the processing or raw gold ore

...still no reason to poison villagers.

[bangrak]

Good luck, villagers... Money rules here, and gold rules even more...

[bangrak]

There needs to be a balanced outlook on this case, as the villagers are blaming the Akara mine company for health issues , and the Thai health department are saying that this is not so, now whether one is right or wrong their needs to be an outside investigation into this , as it is a nasty atmosphere in Phichit, also villagers are obligated not to stop progress, because you can't, however a call to either the Australian or North American mining and health fraternity to carry out independent testing , from both Kingstream and Akar's view , wouldn't go astray and put this issue to rest once and for all. ........................................

'...and the Thai health department are saying...', '...there needs to be an outside investigation...': 'chainarong', the number of your posts makes one think you enjoy the Thai climate for many years, but the two quotes I picked out of your post seem to show you to be an incorrigible optimist, trusting any authority's declaration, or expecting an outside investigation to be tolerated... I ensure you the general public will become the best truth money can buy, here too...

[gandalf12]

"About 400 villagers have been tested with high content of arsenic in their blood." This is attempted murder or malicious injury, or both, and should be punished accordingly.

Arsenic is used in the processing or raw gold ore

...still no reason to poison villagers.

Never said it was. I think it is more reason to stop the mining

[fxe1200]

"About 400 villagers have been tested with high content of arsenic in their blood." This is attempted murder or malicious injury, or both, and should be punished accordingly.

Arsenic is used in the processing or raw gold ore

...still no reason to poison villagers.

Never said it was. I think it is more reason to stop the mining

Never said you did say it. It is not only a reason to stop the mining. It is a reason to bring those responsible for the poisoning to full justice and to pay reparations and medical expenses for those suffering from the existence of the mine.

This will happen, when the Thai Justice understands on iota of the value of a human life. It is not 20.000THB.