SEZ proposals strike fear in villagers

NO HEAVY industry will be promoted in the proposed special economic zones (SEZs) in the border provinces, government officials have emphasised.
However, locals near the proposed economic zone in Tak’s Mae Sot district said they feared their livelihoods would soon be changed forever as people in two villages would have to move away from their land.
They were also worried about the future environmental impact of the industrial estates.
Representatives of the Office of the National Economics and Social Development Board (NESDB) and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), who are responsible for the creation of 10 border SEZs, addressed villagers’ concerns about the possible environmental impact and the problem of land reclamation to the Thai Journalist Association yesterday.
Pojanee Artarotpinyo, NESDB’s deputy secretary-general, said 13 industry types were promoted by the government to invest in the new SEZs. All are light industry, and only one of them needs to be processed under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consideration.
The 13 industries are agricultural product processing, ceramics, textile, furniture, jewellery, medical equipment, automobile parts, electronics, plastics, medicine, logistics, other industrial zones and assistance to the tourism industry.
Together with these industries, it was reported recently that the Board of Investment of Thailand had added another 10 to the list of promoted industries that would receive tax benefits if they invested in the new SEZs.
“I was assured that these 13 promoted industries were light industry, mostly based on labour and environmentally friendly,” Pojanee said.
Attapon Jirawatjanya, IEAT specialist, clarified that due to the location of all SEZs in the rural area, close to the border, only specific types of industry were suitable to invest there, such as logistics and commodities industries. The area was not appropriate for heavy and polluted industry such as petrochemicals.
“We have come up with guidelines for the appropriate types of industry in specific SEZs and they will fit with the local environment and resources,” Attapon said.
He also revealed that the industries in the area were planned to help local people benefit first from the SEZs. The zone would generate a suitable atmosphere for economic growth and create jobs and opportunities for locals.
However, Chomphunuth Kreau-kamwang, a resident of Mae Sot district, claimed she was among those affected by the SEZs project and was concerned that life would change forever.
“My family and several neighbours will have to move out from our lands as they are to be reclaimed by the state to set up the SEZs. We are farmers who make a living from this land and we have no place to go,” Chomphunuth said.
She revealed that people who lived in two villages near the proposed SEZs’ area were very ill-informed on the project.
“The prime minister said locals would be the ones to benefit from the project – but I cannot see how industry in the area could be good for the community. Furthermore, I am worried the industries will pollute our environment,” she said.