Drilling equipment reaches oil well site

AFTER FOUR days, Apico (Khorat) completed the task of transporting its drilling equipment to the Northeast yesterday amid tight security, while residents from the neighbourhood kept urging the government to consider their concerns about the impact the drilling would have on their livelihood and the environment. 

While the equipment was being moved, residents held a peaceful protest at Ban Na Mun village in Khon Kaen’s Kranuan district. This village is only 2 kilometres from the site, which is actually located in Kalasin province, and residents believe they will be affected if there are any ill-effects from the operation. The villagers sang songs of protest as a convoy of trucks passed them, though there were no signs of chaos. 

Meanwhile, the authorities were criticised heavily for providing the company with a 200-strong police team, security volunteers and soldiers on a daily basis, though the Army defended itself by saying the team was there to ensure public safety. 

Colonel Jaturapong Bokbon, deputy chief of the Security Operations Command (Isoc) branch in Khon Kaen, said yesterday that the security team would withdraw once all the equipment was moved, and that they were only there to prevent clashes and protect villagers. 

Protest ‘incited by outsiders’

“This area has 8,000 residents, but there are only 20 to 30 individuals who oppose the project. Those who incited the protest come from outside, such as NGOs and some community leaders,” he said, adding that people would be made to understand that if there is any adverse impact from the drilling, the company would be held accountable. 

Songyos Saenkhot, 51, said he and fellow residents were protesting because they had already experienced drilling in 1989, and at that time they did not fight because they knew nothing about the possible impact. He said when the drilling began in 1989, their rice harvests dwindled and fruit trees died, adding that everything returned to normal once the well was closed. 

Citing the 1989 experience as well as a similar impact on another village that is 5 kilometres from another drilling site in Kalasin’s Nong Kung Si district, protesters believe the problem stemmed from the drilling for oil and gas. 

“The well will be near my rubber plantation, so I’m afraid of the impact. Those who insist there will be no problems don’t have the right information, because we have already been affected earlier in 1989,” he added. 

Early yesterday, a community radio announcement urged student activists to leave the area, as they along with NGOs, have been accused of inciting the villagers. 

However, villager Wichai Jaiboon, 54, said the students provided them with useful information – especially about possible impacts – something the public sector had failed to tell them about. 

“If they want to drive out the students, I and fellow villagers are willing to protect the students,” he added.

Meanwhile, Apico (Khorat) escorted residents of 11 other villages nearby to inspect the oil-well site as well as listen to a briefing from Energy Ministry officials about the safety. 

Pratheep Saengsi, deputy headman of the Ban Sap Somboon village, said that though it would be difficult to stop this project, as it was a part of the government’s policy, he and other residents would protect themselves if anything went wrong. 

Also, he said, the company should be held responsible for all adverse impacts and compensate those affected.