VILLAGERS VOW TO CONTINUE FIGHT AGAINST WASTE PLANT
PROJECT DESPITE LEADER'S DEATH
The Nation (Thailand), January 20, 1996
"Villagers opposed to the construction of an industrial waste facility in Rayong's Pluak Daeng District say they will continue fighting the project despite the brutal murder of one of their leaders on Thursday evening.
Theerawat Namduarig, a leader of the villagers, said yesterday that the shooting of Thong-in Kaewattha is directly related to his opposition to the project planned by General Environmental Conservation Co Ltd (Genco)-
The company is joint venture between the Ministry of Industry, which has a 25 per cent stake, and GCN Holding- Co Ltd. a subsidiary of the General Finance Group of Companies. Technology will be provided by the US-based multinational Waste Management International PLC.
'Apart from strongly protesting the project, Thong-in had no other conflicts with anybody,' Theerawat said.
Thong-in was gunned down at around 8:00 pm on Thursday night while talking to. a neighbour in front of his home in Pluak Daeng's Klong Kram village.
Witnesses reported seeing two gunmen riding a yellow motorcycle drive up to Thong-in's house and shoot him six times before riding off.
The police have yet to apprehend any suspects.
One media report quoted the police officer Somphot Theerawattanaset, who is in charge of the case, as saying that the murder may be related to Thong-in's opposition to the Genco project. ...
On Thursday, just prior to Thong-in's murder, Chaiwat announced that the waste treatment plant and incinerator would be constructed at Map Ta Phud industrial estate, but the project's landfill would still be built on Genco's 1,000-rai plot of land in Pluak Daeng district.
Chaiwat expressed hope yesterday that, the compromise solution would reduce tensions over the issue. But villagers announced that they would continue to oppose the project, as possible leaks of toxic waste from the landfill still threatened their community and the Nong Plalai reservoir. ...
Thong-in, a 45-vear-old farmer, was the head of Pluak Daeng's Friends of Environmental Protection Group, which has played an important role in protesting the project. He also was an administrator for the tambon council in Tasit sub-district, and had pushed the council to oppose the treatment plant's construction in the Pluak Daeng area."