It is reported that villagers opposing the construction of Sahaviriya Group's iron smelting plant at Bang Saphan in Thailand claimed they had taken a significant step in their two year long struggle to convince the government of the environmental problems the project could bring.

Mr Supoj Songseang leader of tambon Mae Rampueng conservation group led some 100 villagers from five local conservation groups to demolish a bunker in front of opponents' headquarters located next to the project site. He said that ''We have broken the wall of fear. We are no longer afraid of any violent attacks from the project's supporters because the public has now realized that our struggle is justified and is purely aimed at saving the country's vital natural resources and our livelihood.”

Mr Supoj said the groups, from the four tambons that would be directly affected by the steel factory if it is allowed to be set up, would now focus their attention on studying the impact of industrial development and disseminating information to the public, instead of wasting their energy on countering the firm and its supporters. The opponents set up a barracks like post at Ban Don Samran four months ago when conflict between them and the project's proponents began to magnify.

Mr Supoj believes that demolishing the bunker and re focussing the group's actions would help ease tensions in the district and change the public's perception toward the protesters as being the instigators of the previous violent clash.

The announcement came on the same day as prominent academics from the Chiang Mai based Institute of Alternative Education held a public hearing to gather local opinion about the THB 90 billion project.

Around 300 villagers attended the forum. The villagers took turns to explain how they could be victimised by the smelting plant's possible impact to academics, legal experts and media representatives. They said the project, comprising 10 smelting and steel processing factories, incinerators, landfills, power plants, and a deep-sea port, would devastate the area's marine resources, particularly pla tu since Mae Rampueng cape is one of the country's largest spawning grounds for the fish.

Mr Sureerat Taechutrakul owner of Rachavadee resort in tambon Thongchai, said the expansion of the plant would badly hurt tourism which generates huge revenue for the locals and business operators here.