"Chana"

The Chana Rak Thin protesters who had gathered outside Government House on December 6 were handled in line with the Public Assembly Act and the emergency decree, Pol Maj-General Nakarin Sukontawit, commander of Protection and Crowd Control Division said on Thursday.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau announced on Wednesday that it was collecting evidence to pursue legal action against Chana Rak Thin protesters, who had been camping outside Government House since early this month, despite the group having already dispersed at 7am on Wednesday and heading home to Songkhla.

Chana Rak Thin (Protect Homeland Chana) protesters agreed to go home on Wednesday after the cabinet resolved to delay a controversial industrial estate project in Songkhla until a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is completed and the prime minister ordered a fact-checking committee to be set up.

Though Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted on Monday that the controversial Chana Industrial Estate project in Songkhla will go ahead, he admitted that the state should pay more heed to local residents.

Fishermen from Songkhla’s Chana district gathered in Sakom sub-district on Friday to renew their fight against plans to turn Chana into a “Prototype City of Advanced Futuristic Industries”.

The Chana Rakthin protesters rallying outside Government House on Monday evening were handled gently by Bangkok police, deputy Metropolitan Police chief Maj-General Jirasan Kaewsaengaek said on Tuesday.

The Cabinet on Tuesday (January 21) approved the development plan of a special economic zone in Chana district of Songkhla province, costing Bt18.7 billion, said Deputy government spokesperson Ratchada Dhanadirek.

Villagers in Songkhla’s Chana district captured a two-metre-long crocodile on Saturday, leading to fears among residents that there may be others in the area.

More than two perpetrators were behind the bomb attack at Chana railway station in Songkhla on Monday, police said yesterday.