Nakhon Ratchasima: The group of people who love their hometown Dan Khuntod, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, traveled to submit a request to the Ministry of Industry to stop the blasting of a tunnel at the potash mine of Thai Kali Co., Ltd., confirming that they are ready to hold their ground until they receive a satisfactory answer.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Duenrung Moonkhuntod, a representative of the women's human rights defenders group, Khon Rak Ban Kerd Dan Khuntod, Dan Khuntod District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, said that she brought a group of villagers who were affected by the potash mining operations of Thai Kali Co., Ltd. to demand that the Ministry of Industry stop blasting and opening the tunnel for potash mining because they were worried that they would be affected by the blast and that there would be a problem of salt from the salt layer flowing out and contaminating the underground water source, causing damage to agricultural crops, as had happened before.
Meanwhile, Mr. Anand Fuksang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Primary Industries and Mining, came to acknowledge the demands of the group of villagers who gathered in front of the building of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry. However, the villagers insisted that they would only negotiate with the high-ranking executives of the ministry.
Ms. Duenrung said that she had prepared food supplies and was ready to hold a prolonged rally. She would stay until she received a response from the Ministry of Industry on how to solve the problems of the villagers who were affected by the potash mine, which was granted a mining concession by Thai Kali Co., Ltd., in which the Bangchak Group holds shares.