<p>News articles about Muslim opposition to a statue of Guan Yin goddess in the South have been making rounds on the internet, drawing mockery and allegations about Muslim intolerance, especially from netizens who didn&rsquo;t read past the headlines.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>However, a report by Prachatai English finds that local activists and clerics are not protesting the plan out of religious hatred, but out of concerns that the statue would pave the way for a controversial industrial estate and open the door to Chinese investor influence in the region.</p>

<p>Villagers from Chana District, Songkhla, have returned home after a week of protest against the Chana industrial estate project, following a cabinet resolution issued on Tuesday (14 December).</p>

<p>On 6 December, 36 villagers from Chana District, Songkhla Province, were arrested after they camped in front of Government House, asking for an update on the promise made last year to reconsider a 16,700-rai industrial estate in the South that would affect their livelihoods.</p>

<p>On the 6th day of a protest in front of Government House, a cabinet resolution has delayed a city zoning meeting, a process required for the proposed industrial project in Chana District, Songkhla Province, and established a committee to solve the problem of constructing the industrial zone over 16,000 rai.</p>

<p>Around 60 villagers from Chana District, Songkhla Province, travelled a thousand kilometres to Government House in Bangkok to demand the cancellation of a controversial industrial project in their area. They met pressure from police who were facing off against pro-democracy protesters, which had repercussions on their protest too.</p>

<p>People from various Songkhla fishing communities are&nbsp;demanding the authorities to halt a series of public hearings of a mega project that would turn over 16,000 rai of seaside land into an industrial zone. Meanwhile, Kaireeya Ramanyah, a young human right defenders and the Chana Rak Thin Network&#39;s youth representative, has been sitting in front of the Songkhla provincial hall since yesterday morning (12 May)&nbsp;and said that she will not leave until they get answers.&nbsp;</p>