Charter must 'make Thais owners of all mineral resources'

It was also proposed at the forum, held by Geological Society of Thailand (GST), that the new Mineral Bill should allow more public participation and more public hearings on new mining projects.

Former GST president Parinya Nutalai stressed that all mineral resources are owned by the state and all Thai citizens have a right over it. “It is not the government’s power to manage our mineral resources, as the government only represents and uses power in the name of the people. Therefore, we should add a section in the constitution to emphasise people’s ownership of minerals,” Parinya proclaimed.

He said that in all previous charters the people never got advantages from mining, or a fair right to determine the fate of mining projects that affect them.

His opinion was supported by Somsak Potisat, a former director of the Mineral Resources Department, who also stated that people should have the right to take part in every decision to exploit mineral resources.

“The people’s decision is very important and the government should provide education to the people, so they will have enough knowledge to decide on the issue of natural resources,” Somsak suggested.

He said that as the new Mineral Bill was now being considered by the Council of State, it should develop in a manner of public law to allow greater public participation in future mining activities.

Parinya also said the people should have the power of a |judicial review to inspect government moves and the new Mineral Bill should clearly point out what kind of ore should not be exported and restrict foreign companies from exploiting the country’s resources.

 

Mineral Bill opposed

Earlier, the new Mineral Bill was strongly opposed by people in provinces designated for gold mine expansion, as they claimed such a move would violate their rights and allow easier process to start new mining projects. 

Sasin Chalermlab, secretary-general of the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, emphasised that public hearings were a way to prevent conflict between locals, who suffer from mining activities, and the government.

“The current public hearings are done at the tambon level, while the effect from mining is usually felt on the village scale. Therefore, the people who are affected by pollution from mining are often outnumbered by a majority of voices who do not feel the effect,” Sasin said.

“It is unjustified that the majority vote is used to suppress the voices of those who affected,” he said.