A GROUP of Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) residents staged a protest over exploration and mining of potash deposits in their Northeastern province just as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and ministers arrived for a mobile cabinet meeting at Rajabhat University, Naewna newspaper said today (July 2).
Protesters from Non Thai, Non Sung and City districts affected by exploration for potash and once deposits found the granting of mining concessions gathered in front of the university gate at 9 a.m.
However another group of residents who supported Srettha also showed up.
This led to officials changing the route with the prime minister and the ministers entering the university via another gate.
Protesters said it is Srettha’s policy to mine potash in the country in order to reduce imports. What angered them is that the amount had been increased from 800,000 tonnes to over 3 million tonnes.
They added that they wanted to submit a letter to Srettha and if he did not come out to receive it they would burn it out there.
At one point there was aggressive verbal exchange after some policemen pointed at the protesters, who shouted out that they were living off people’s taxes and are not in trouble so stop pointing at them.
The protesters were further enraged when another company of policemen showed up to maintain order, asking them why they had done so because those gathered there were their relatives and country folk which led to the police backing off.
Potash is a mineral mainly used as an ingredient in the production of potassium fertilisers. As one of the three major plant and crop nutrients, potassium increases crop quality and protects plants against diseases and insects, SCB Economic Intelligence Centre said.
With the world’s growing population, demand for potash continues to rise following higher demand for agricultural produce. Canada is the world’s major potash exporter, while Asian countries are the world’s main importers, with Thailand ranked 5th in Asia.
The development of potash mining in Thailand could curb imports and thus reduce production costs for the agricultural and manufacturing industries. Thailand’s high potential in potash mining stems from abundant high-quality potash deposits and strong agricultural and food industries.
However, environmental and social impacts resulting from potash mining must be kept in mind. To ensure the sustainable development of the potash mining industry, the public should be well informed about the costs and benefits. Expert consultation and a choice of optimal technology will minimise any negative impacts from potash mining.
CAPTION:
The protest over potash mining at Rajabhat University in Nakhon Ratchasima this morning, July 2. Photos: Naewna
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