Prachin Buri protesters press government to halt EEC expansion
Prachin Buri residents demand a halt to EEC expansion, permanent closures of polluting factories and a ban on industrial-waste imports.
- Residents of Prachin Buri are protesting to demand the government stop the expansion of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) into their province.
- Protesters fear the expansion will worsen existing environmental problems, such as industrial pollution, illegal waste dumping, and harm to water sources and farmland.
- The group's demands include the permanent closure of polluting factories, the removal of all industrial waste, and environmental restoration with compensation for residents.
- They are also calling for a crackdown on "grey capital" groups allegedly behind illegal dumping and a permanent ban on industrial waste imports.
Residents of Prachin Buri have called on the government to abandon the proposed expansion of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) into their province, linking their opposition to demands for action against industrial pollution and illegal waste dumping.
The Prachin Strong Network and residents from several parts of the province gathered at the King Rama V monument plaza outside the former Prachin Buri Provincial Hall on Sunday (November 15, 2026).
The protesters presented five demands under the slogan: “No EEC, end grey capital, restore clean air to our land.”
Residents question development policy
The group’s first demand was for the government to stop efforts to bring Prachin Buri into the EEC. Protesters argued that the expansion could lead to changes in land-use zoning and disrupt communities’ traditional ways of life.
Residents cited industrial waste and hazardous chemicals found in several parts of the province, expressing concern about potential harm to water sources, farmland and community health.
With the government continuing to promote economic and industrial development in eastern Thailand, participants questioned whether the proposed expansion would worsen existing environmental problems that they said had yet to be adequately addressed.
Demands for factory closures and community compensation
The network’s second demand was for the permanent closure of factories it accuses of causing pollution and violating environmental laws, to prevent further harm to residents.
Its third demand called for authorities to urgently remove all industrial waste and hazardous chemicals from Prachin Buri.
The fourth focused on environmental restoration and compensation. Protesters called for soil, water and air quality to be restored, alongside fair compensation for damage to the health and livelihoods of affected residents.
The fifth demand targeted so-called “grey capital” groups and influential figures that the protesters allege are behind illegal industrial waste dumping and unlawful business operations. The network called for a comprehensive crackdown on those activities.
Appeal for a permanent industrial-waste import ban
The protesters also appealed to people across Thailand to join efforts to pressure the government into permanently banning imports of industrial waste.
The Prachin Strong Network maintained that residents were not opposed to development itself, but rejected development that disregarded people’s well-being.
