A woman of substance

She didn’t even complete primary school but her lack of schooling hasn’t stopped Manee Boonrawd from being a vital force in her hometown’s successful efforts to keep away the potash-mining business. 

“For more than a decade now, I’ve been standing up to businesspeople, politicians and officials who have tried to introduce potash mining here,” says the 67-year-old resident of Udon Thani, a province in Thailand’s Northeast.

Twenty years ago, though, it was a different story. Back then Manee knew nothing about environmental protection and admits she was excited when private firms came to her hometown back in 1993 to survey the land.

“I was told these firms were looking for oil. I even hoped that they would come to my fields,” she recalls. 

Her attitude changed radically once the tractors arrived and with them scores of workers, all of them total strangers. 

“Their tractors damaged the earthen ridges in my paddy fields,” Manee says. “I walked up to these men and demanded compensation of Bt20,000.”

The company agreed with her claim and coughed up the money. Many locals then followed her example and were also compensated. But the fledging activist didn’t stop there. Acquainted with many people thanks to an earlier job as a sales representative for various direct-marketing and insurance products, she was appointed to the tambon administrative organisation in her hometown in 1996 and has been active as a community leader ever since.

Her fight against the potash mining industry started in 2001, when Suwit Kularbwong, a member of a local non-governmental organisation, visited the community. He brought with him the news that a private company was planning to mine Udon Thani’s bountiful potassium compounds and explained the environmental impacts such a project would cause.

Manee recalls feeling “enlightened” by Suwit’s information and immediately decided to mobilise opposition to the potash-mining project. 

“I had anti-mining banners flying all over my village. My district chief quickly called me in to demand that I remove the banners. He said such banners were illegal. But I told him the banners were posted at private homes, not in public areas. So how could it be against the law?”

That encounter was one of the first fights she has endured in her battle against big businesses. 

“Ever since then, I’ve been prepared to be sent to jail or even die,” she says. And if that seems melodramatic, it should be borne in mind that in recent year, several activists and environmentalists have been shot for speaking up. 

Manee herself has faced bomb threats and worse but has steadfastly refused to give up her efforts to protect the local environment and community rights. 

“For as long as the environment is not polluted, locals will still have something to fill their stomachs. We can farm; we can catch lizards, small insects and clams. This has been our lifestyle and means of survival since time immemorial. If potash mining starts here, we will lose all that and we’ll end up having to buy food from others too.”

Thanks to her work, local opposition to potash mining remains strong. 

That 1993 survey, which Manee thought was to look for oil, revealed that Udon Thani is rich in potash. Yet despite the concession having been awarded, not a single potash-mining project has materialised to date. 

Whenever public forums on potash mining in Udon Thani are held, Manee and her group are there, insisting that local residents have the right to know what will happen to their hometowns, whether any planned projects will affect their environment and, should that be the case, who will be responsible 

Manee has so far held discussions with seven provincial governors and has approached soldiers, officials and private firms to obtain the information she wants. 

She has also sought allies, working with several non-governmental organisations in strengthening her network and in boosting local people’s knowledge. 

“I have organised law training for locals. I have also hosted radio programmes on practical legal knowledge both in terms of their rights as human beings and under the constitution. We need to be equipped with knowledge to be able to defend ourselves and our community,” Manee says.

She has also taught herself the law, setting aside time each day to study various legal rulings before reading them to the local people and explaining their rights.

Manee has also used all 25 rai of her paddy fields to generate crops for her group’s anti-potash mining efforts for one full season and sold off the crops to raise funds. Her sacrifice has set a good example and several other farmers have followed in her wake.

“All our members help in the fields being used to raise funds for the anti-mining efforts so the time needed is greatly reduced. Unity works wonders,” she says proudly, adding that her group currently has more than Bt500,000 in hand. 

Outside her anti-mining efforts, Manee has also set other examples for others to follow. 

She has established a savings group to encourage locals to economise and live within their means. People in need of cash can also get soft loans from the group. 

“We charge just two-per-cent interest for loans,” she says. 

She has also learned that locals can’t pin their hopes on politicians and officials. 

“At the end of the day, locals can only rely on one another. Believe me,” Manee says. 

She’s also been recognised for her efforts. The National Human Rights Commission, the Komol Keemtong Foundation and the Somchai Neelapaichit Award Fund have honoured her with their prestigious wards while in 2008, the Nation Multimedia Group conferred on her the Tan Khun Paen Din award.

Manee regards her gender as an advantage in leading the fight. “When a woman leads a movement, the risks of confrontation are naturally lower. Women are generally softer. I believe more women will step forward to become leaders”.

 

Salts of the earth

_ The Mineral Resources Department and Asia Pacific Potash Corp (APPC) began their surveys for potash in Udon Thani in 1993. Their exploration covered approximately 850 square kilometres. In 1996, a feasibility study on potash mining was conducted. The target area was divided into two zones: Somboon Site in the lower zone and Udon Thani Site in the upper zone.

_ Potash mining is proposed in Ban Nong Ta Kai, Tambon Nong Phai in Muang district and Prachaksilpakom sub-district of Udon Thani. The operation would cover 25 square kilometres or about 15,000 rai near the Mitrapab Road. The company has bought 2,500 rai for the purpose but is still in the process of seeking permission to operate the potash mine, with local opposition demanding a new and proper environmental impact assessment.