New bill allows gold mines to stay open despite ‘shutdown’

[rooster59]

New bill allows gold mines to stay open despite ‘shutdown’

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation 

 

GOLD mines in Phichit and Loei can operate legally under the new Mineral Bill that was approved by National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday, despite an earlier Cabinet decision to close all gold mines over environmental and health concerns, legal experts said.

 

The Mineral Bill now awaits the signature of HM the King to become a new law.

 

Opponents, however, say the bill will benefit the mining companies rather than protect rights of the people and it will cause increased conflict between the mines and local people across the country.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30301799

 

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-12-10

[seajae]

Once again we see that money is more important than peoples lives in Thailand, the environment and the lives of the people living around these money makers are just thrown away for the sake of profits. No health and safety concerns at all, just the poisoning of waterways and the continuation of the raping of the countryside, wonder who has their finger in the pie

[PatOngo]

Greed knows no bounds!

[NongKhaiKid]

We are going to do this, that and the other to protect the public.

There we've said it so now let's get on with the real agenda.

[IMA_FARANG]

Throughout the world those with the money make the laws for their own benefit and not the people who elect them.

Why should that be any different in Thailand?

 

[PatOngo]

2 minutes ago, IMA_FARANG said:

Throughout the world those with the money make the laws for their own benefit and not the people who elect them.

Why should that be any different in Thailand?

 

 

And in your country, do the powers that be deem you to be worth only 300 baht per day?

[jerojero]

New boss, same as the old boss. For a while, thought this government was going to be different. But sadly no. Too bad for the Thai people.

[WhizBang]

15 hours ago, jerojero said:

New boss, same as the old boss. For a while, thought this government was going to be different. But sadly no. Too bad for the Thai people.

 

You were really expecting something different?

 

Silly rabbit.
 

[worgeordie]

"New bill allows gold mines to stay open despite ‘shutdown’ "

this makes perfect sense, if you are Thai.

regards worgeordie

[smutcakes]

Gold mine issues and 'negotiations' must be like a wet dream for officials here.

[Brer Fox]

19 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

"New bill allows gold mines to stay open despite ‘shutdown’ "

this makes perfect sense, if you are Thai.

regards worgeordie

Flexibility is one of the great qualities of the Thai people. Particularly with regard to governance for the benefit of the wealthy. Those from within will be well rewarded for organising and formalising such flexibility. 

[kmj]

 

Well I'm amazed the people who hold the purse strings have the all the power... who would have thought it.

 

[waldroj]

"...the new Mineral Bill...was approved by...NLA...despite an earlier Cabinet decision...over environmental and health concerns..."

 

Pyrites ahead of People's Rights.

 

What a 44-karat lode of nuggets !!! 

 

[jaltsc]

"Opponents, however, say the bill will benefit the mining companies rather than protect rights of the people..."

Obviously, they haven't heard of the golden rule. "Those with the gold make the rules".  

[ChrisY1]

Obviously after hours meeting at the Army Club work......screw the villagers..what do they know!!

[elgordo38]

6 hours ago, PatOngo said:

 

And in your country, do the powers that be deem you to be worth only 300 baht per day?

Give it time. The Chinese are setting up in the US now with pay rates of $15 an hour. I was making that almost 23 years ago when I retired. Its all part of the Make America Great Again program. 

[ratcatcher]

When it comes to Gold, it takes big money and power to try and shut down a mine. It most likely will not happen. This mine employs hundreds of local people.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@16.3028092,100.7179138,8260a,20y,266.99h,43.84t/data=!3m1!1e3

http://www.akararesources.com/en/business/operations

http://www.akararesources.com/en/sustainability/csr/community

http://www.akararesources.com/en/business/photo-gallery

[baboon]

9 hours ago, jerojero said:

New boss, same as the old boss. For a while, thought this government was going to be different. But sadly no. Too bad for the Thai people.

There were those of us who did try to warn such people what was coming from the beginning, but were angrily shouted down, called names and abused.

Thing is, none of us are crowing now we have proven to be correct. It's a very sad situation this country finds itself in now though, and pretty much nothing can be done about it anymore.

[Srikcir]

On 12/10/2016 at 10:06 AM, rooster59 said:

Cabinet decision to close all gold mines over environmental and health concerns

Obviously, the Cabinet did not make a sincere decision since NCPO Chief and PM Gen. Prayut could use his "influence" to prevent such a bill from passing the NCPO-appointed NLA. He could also have informed his appointed President of the NLA that while his Cabinet decided to close all gold mines, it wasn't HIS decision to do so.

 

[SimpleChap]

17 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

Give it time. The Chinese are setting up in the US now with pay rates of $15 an hour. I was making that almost 23 years ago when I retired. Its all part of the Make America Great Again program. 

 

Did you never realise that the constant union fights to get higher wages and working less hours makes the end product more expensive, hence the need for a further pay increase because you can't afford to buy those now expensive items any more, which will get again more expensive after the next pay rise,.................

 

But at the end of the day it also kills your exports because it forces you out of the market since your exports are too expensive, and you will start importing from cheaper producing countries, which in return will force the local producers to close down and fire the employees. Then, no wages any more.

 

So yes the only way to make America, or any other western country for that matter, great again is by lowering the pay rates.

[elgordo38]

46 minutes ago, SimpleChap said:

So yes the only way to make America, or any other western country for that matter, great again is by lowering the pay rates.

If the myriad of tax "extras" would disappear  $15 an hour would be a livable wage and I could see your point. Unfortunately there is no restart button in the world today but then again you could say Asia and its low wages is forcing it upon us. You cannot live today on yesterdays wages and the government will not roll back the tax clock. It all ends badly. 

[Batboy]

Some good news for the 1000 plus workers at Chatree Goldmine who will still have good paying jobs that pay more than 300 Bht a day Sanity prevails.

I was always under the impression that only the Cambodian and Myanmar worker were exploited for this amount or even lower.  Also If anyone thinks that these mines will still be able to operate and be able to pollute the environment if they did at all, then you are sadly wrong. They will be under more scrutiny now by the government and the greenies who stirred up the locals to get both the Chatree Gold Mine and Tungkum mine shutdown.

 

Unfortunately without mining, the every day items that we use and take for granted would be very different. We would be living in bamboo huts and still riding buffalo's. That may suit some who have made comment but not many I am sure.