Meetings called for Wednesday between villagers and gold mine operator Akara Mining Limited could worsen their conflict, academics say.
The mines are massive operations, with extensive Australian investment. The company says mines like this one along the Pichit-Phitsanulok-Phetchaburn border are safe for employees; activists don't believe that. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)
Smith Tungkasmit, of Rangsit University's College of Social Innovation, said both sides of the mine dispute could clash with each other if they are forced to meet. The Rangsit academics are part of a joint committee which the NCPO has asked to look into villagers' complaints that the environment around the mine is contaminated.
The Department of Primary Industries and Mines (DPIM) will host two simultaneous meetings at villages near the Chatree Complex mine in Pichit and Phetchabun provinces. The mining company is due to give progress updates on the department's order issued on Jan 13 to temporarily close the mine, located on the border adjoining Pichit, Phetchabun and Phitsanulok provinces.
Villagers have filed complaints with state agencies about the health and environmental impacts allegedly caused by the mining operation.
The DPIM ordered Akara to treat more than 200 sick villagers while a probe of the cause of their ailments is underway. The department believes the meeting will ease tension between villagers and Akara, which has appealed to the DPIM to revoke the shutdown order.
A group of Pichit villagers living near the mine has urged the department to cancel the meeting as they fear it will be used as a rubber stamp to allow Akara to resume its work. They said it is likely the DPIM will decide after the meetings whether to revoke the shutdown order.
Mr Smith said he feared a confrontation because the meetings are to be organised at the villages, and mine supporters and protesters are likely to confront each other, especially if officials call a vote on the mine.
"The decision to open or shut down the mine should not hang on votes," said Mr Smith. "This problem should be discussed based on scientific evidence, not by a meeting." Mr Smith has led a group of academics to examine heavy metal contamination around the mine.
His group on Monday released sets of partial lab test results for the water, soil, plant and blood samples.
Sitang Pilaila, of Kasetsart University's Faculty of Engineering, which is also taking part in the study for the NCPO, said while complete results are pending, initial sample results showed mercury and lead contamination in shallow well water — which locals use for drinking — collected from areas 300 metres and 500 metres away from the mine.
Some of the samples were also contaminated by cadmium, arsenic and manganese, she said.
Meanwhile, Akara Mining said it was worried the tests will mislead people into thinking the mine is the source of the contamination. In fact, no neutral scientific study has proven that, it said. The firm also criticised the academics for breaking an agreement not to reveal any test results before all sides had been consulted.