A group of protesters from Nakhon Si Thammarat's Na Bon district yesterday began a hunger strike near Government House as part of a protest against a biomass power plant project in their community.
The strike, which protesters described as a form of "civil disobedience", was seen as an attempt to step up pressure on the government to address their concerns.
The protesters were camping out at Chamaimaruchet Bridge as police erected barricades blocking access to Government House. The move came after talks with state agencies on Wednesday failed to yield satisfactory results.
The protesters were adamant about their demands which include the rehabilitation of 13 households affected by the project and conducting a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) study.
Riang Sikaew, adviser to the "Save Nabon" group, said yesterday the villagers would carry on until their demands were met. According to the group, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha signed an order on Wednesday instructing the Energy Regulatory Commission and state agencies to provide assistance to 13 households affected by the project.
The premier also assigned the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning to consider the group's demands, review an environmental impact assessment study and conduct a SEA study into the project, they said.
However, the group claimed the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning refused to heed its demands, despite what the PM had instructed.