Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today promised to investigate reports that a conservationist and media crews were intimidated and prevented from attending the public hearing for a rock mining project in Phatthalung province.
“I will look into it,” the premier said, responding to a journalist’s question about the alleged intimidation at a public hearing on Aug 5 at a mosque in Phatthalung’s Pa Bon district.
Ekkachai Itsaratha, a conservationist, alleges he was abducted by a group of nearly 20 men on Aug 5 as he sought to participate in a public hearing held by a mining company and officials from the Department of Primary Industries and Mines.
He claimed the group forcibly confiscated his car and mobile phone and detained him at a nearby resort for several hours until the hearing was completed.
Mr Ekkachai, also secretary-general of the Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Committee on Development, today filed a complaint with Songkhla Police Station and petitioned Provincial Police Region 9 to launch an investigation.
He now suspects he is being followed, after spotting a suspicious car driving near his house in Songkhla province.
“This is a serious issue as there are many similar public hearings ongoing in southern provinces. The government cannot let ‘dark influences’ challenge its power and ruin the its image,” Mr Ekkachai said.
His move came after a similar plea lodged by the Association of Southern Newspaper Journalists (ASNJ) and Phatthalung Provincial Media Club on Tuesday last week. Local media outlets sent a petition to Kookiat Wongkrapan, the Phatthalung governor, asking for the matter to be investigated.
ASNJ president Chaiyong Maneerppngsakul said that crews from Channel 7, Thai PBS, Amarin TV and local media were barred entry to the Aug 5 public hearing. The TV crews instead made a detour to capture footage of Lad Toey Waterfall, in the zone earmarked for the rock mining, but were followed by a car and then asked by an unknown man to leave the area, said Mr Chaiyong.
Sophon Chingchit, secretary-general of the National Human Rights Commission, said such acts violated both basic civil rights and the Criminal Code.