The gold mining company Akara Resources Plc says it will look after any villagers suffering from adverse health affects caused by its mining operations in Pichit province.
"We have a proud tradition of ensuring we operate at world class standards and it is highly unlikely that any illnesses claimed by a small number of villagers are caused by our operations," Akara's chief executive officer Pakorn Sukhum said.
"Akara has always valued our neighbours and local communities are the lifeblood of our workforce so we will help where help is needed — this is our responsibility as a good corporate citizen," Mr Pakorn added.
His remarks came after local activists submitted a petition with the names of 179 villagers to the NCPO, accusing the mine of harming the environment and villagers' health.
The mining company was accused by the activists of using toxic metals that may have poisoned villagers.
However, some of the villagers subsequently lodged complaints with local police, claiming their names were used by the local activists in the petition without their knowledge.
The NCPO has since ordered a hearing into the dispute between the villagers and the mining company, including blood and urine tests among villagers living around the mine.
In a press release by the company they described their operations as follows: a joint venture between a Thai company, Lotus Hall, and the Australian gold-mining group Kingsgate Consolidated, Akara Resources has been operating the country's largest gold mine in Phichit province for more than 10 years.
In that time, they have maintained the use of world-class standards in technology, safety, environmental health and waste management, according to Mr Pakorn.
He insisted there have been no environmental issues throughout the operating period.
The Ministry of Industry revamped its gold mining royalty regime to meet current world standards, meaning Akara pays between 7% and 20% royalties based on the gold price.
These royalties have amounted to more than 3.2 billion baht on an accumulated basis since the company started operations in late 2001.
Mr Pakorn said Akara will stand by its promise to help those local villagers who need it, and welcomed a strong show of community support when almost 2,000 people, comprising Akara workers, their family members and villagers living in the mine's vicinity, signed an open letter in support of the company's management of the environment.