Kanchanaburi factory closed after protests
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A BRASS moulding factory in Kanchanaburi has been closed under martial law for polluting the air and water, pending further instructions from the Central Administrative Court to ensure better compliance with industrial regulations.
A team of soldiers yesterday visited the offices of TCC Nong Nokkaew Co and negotiated with some 100 protesting villagers before arranging a meeting between them and the firm’s executives.
The troops finally produced |an order from the provincial industrial operations office for the firm to stop operating until it conforms to regulations and reached an understanding with the community.
To disperse the rally – in breach of the junta’s ban on public gatherings of more than five people – soldiers from the Ninth Infantry Division based in the province ordered the suspension of business at TCC Nong Nokkaew Co, citing their authority granted under two articles of martial law.
The villagers cheered after learning of the closure order before leaving.
They had lodged a complaint with the provincial industrial operations office while calling on the firm to conduct a public hearing to sound out their opinions about its operations, which had been permitted, up till yesterday.
