Gold mine meeting ends in chaos

A FIGHT broke out yesterday during the second day of a local administrative body’s meeting to discuss the reopening of a gold mine in Loei – preventing any decision being made.

The conflict over extending land-use permits for gold mining by Thungkum Co in Loei’s Wang Saphung district was still unsettled, as the Tambon Khao Luang Administrative Organisation’s second bid to vote on the issue failed again.

Around 300 local people from the Rak Ban Kerd Group, who protested against the mine being reopened, fought with police guarding the meeting after the pro-mine councillors tried to vote on the gold miner’s land-use permit.

During the meeting, council president Samai Pakme told the council that the Cabinet had decided to close all gold mines by the end of this year, but there was still no official order about this. Therefore, he decided to postpone the vote on extending the permit for the mine until a later meeting.

However, 16 councillors protested against this and insisted that they be allowed to vote, with vice president Watcharapon Buapanbuth leading the meeting instead.

This angered the Rak Ban Kerd Group. Some started to shout and throw objects in the meeting, while members outside tried to get in and clashed with police. 

Because of the chaos, Samai called an end to the meeting without any decision being made, and the 16 councillors left the scene immediately on military transport. No one was seriously hurt.

Pornthip Hongchai, a leader of the group, said they would continue to campaign against moves to reopen the mine, as people had suffered very badly from pollution from its operations, while the Cabinet had also denounced all gold mines across the country.

On Thursday, the meeting ended after 16 councillors walked out when they failed to ask the president of the council to arrange a secret vote. Both sides also petitioned provincial officials to dismiss their opponents from their posts.

An adviser to Industry Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said the Thungkum gold mine was included in the ministry’s decision on those to be shut down by the end of this year.

“The decision is clear – there will be no gold mines at all in Thailand after this year. In fact, Thungkum gold mine has been closed since 2014 and on that basis, the company cannot ask for its concession to be extended,” Sontirat said.

However, on the issue of a land-use permit being renewed, he said authorities would have to look into the detail of the official order, which is now being drafted and would be sent to Akara Resources and Thungkum – the only operators of gold mines in Thailand – as soon as possible.

Chat Hongtiamchant, director-general of the Primary Industries and Mines Department, said the Cabinet had decided that no gold-mine concessions would be renewed and no new concessions issued. The state policy was clear that there would be no gold mines in the country.

In related news, the National Human Rights Commission released a statement yesterday praising the government decision to shut down all gold mines and help people near Akara’s gold mine. It also urged the authorities to amend the Mineral Bill, which is now being assessed by the National Legislative Assembly, to protect the environment and ensure people enjoy a good quality of life.