Steel smelter row leads to violent clash

General News - Thursday December 20, 2007

ENVIRONMENT

Steel smelter row leads to violent clash

CHAIWAT SATYAEM

Prachuap Khiri Khan _ About 100 supporters of Sahaviriya Group's prospective 500-billion-baht steel smelting plant attacked 10 opponents of the project in front of scores of security officers yesterday as they were observing a local meeting on the plan, victims said.

The clash broke out after 10 opponents of the project emerged from an urgent meeting of Mae Ram Pueng Tambon Administration Organisation, which had been convened to consider a land filling proposal to accommodate the project.

The group submitted a letter opposing the filling of a local peat swamp.

However, supporters of the plan to build the first steel smelter in Bang Saphan district, all wearing red t-shirts, attacked the 10 men and women with knives and wooden sticks, the victims said. Their cars were also vandalised, they told police.

Supoj Songsiang, a project opponent leader, said the incident took place in front of about 100 police and soldiers who were deployed to maintain order. The officers did not offer any assistance, he said.

The injured men and women were taken to hospital.

Pol Col Surasak Sooksawang, chief of Bang Saphan police station, said the victims had filed complaints against their attackers. The clash took place after opponents of the plant submitted a letter to oppose the project and they refused to leave the meeting venue.

Both sides entered into a heated argument before fighting broke out, police said.

Residents fear the smelter would destroy their livelihoods and the pristine Mae Ram Pueng peat swamp.

Bangkok Post