On Jan 24, supporters of Sahaviriya's smelting plant clashed with the Mae Ramphueng conservation group at the construction site in Bang Saphan district, Prachuab Khiri Khan, when the conservation group was trying to prevent subcontractors from digging drainage ditches. One supporter was killed by a gunshot, and four opponents injured.

Santi Chokechaichamnankit, advisor to the conservation group, said that the situation had grown tense since the morning of Jan 22, when the steel company workers brought in two backhoes and a bulldozer to dig drainage ditches as part of the smelting plant construction, despite the fact that the project's environmental impact assessment (EIA) report had not yet been approved by the relevant state agencies.

The project supporters mobilized teenagers equipped with knives, swords, and M-16s, but there was no violent incident. From then until Jan 24, more than 100 supporters were mobilized, and the ditch digging started. The conservation group members decided to call for talks with the workers, and walked toward them on a public right of way, but were stopped midway and challenged by the supporters. The conservation group members decided to go through, and a clash occurred with slingshots fired among them, and the teenage supporters using metal pellets.

Local authorities look away

Around noon, after policemen withdrew, the teenagers moved forward, firing slingshots, and there were several gunshots which drove the conservation group members to flee and seek shelter behind trees. One supporter named Raksak Kongtrakul, 36, was shot on the chest, and later died at hospital.

Afterwards, the police tried to search the conservation group members for weapons, but they resisted and told the police to seize weapons from the teenagers first. And then they returned to gather at their centre.

"Now the teenagers stay put at the construction site. The villagers feel bad and don't understand why the authorities didn't intervene, neither did TAO members nor village heads," said Santi.

Saowaree Weerakul, member of the conservation group, said that now there are 200-300 members gathered at their centre for fear that the supporters in red t-shirts would assault them and there are no authorities around.

Saowaree said that the teenagers wearing red t-shirts were mainly the same as those who beat up conservation group members at the Mae Ramphueng TAO on Dec 19, 2007.

Police withdrew before the fatal clash occured

Saowaree said that around 10 am workers started to operate the backhoes, and the conservation group members were gathering and trying to stop them. At first, there were policemen and soldiers watching, but when both sides encountered each other, the police and soldiers just moved farther away.

"It's already widely known that Bang Saphan is plagued with trouble and violence, but the police just didn't show up. The villagers are now living in fear because the investors, local mafia, and village heads are on the same side; they feel isolated. However, having come this far, we won't back off and will fight to the end. If violence happens again, the people will know how useless the authorities are," she said.

After the clash, at Prachuab Khiri Khan provincial hall, Deputy Governor Bongkan Limpapan, Bang Saphan District Chief Thawatchai Ditsayanan, and Provincial Deputy Commander Pol Col Thiwa Boondamnern and other authorities had a meeting to discuss the clash. Bongkan asked the police to send more than 300 anti-riot police and local police to prevent further violence.

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