September 07, 2008

NHRC wants action on SSI land at Mae Ram Phung

It is reported that Thai National Human Rights Commission has asked the Land Department to speed up an inquiry into ownership of 200 rai of land at Mae Ram Phung peat swamp claimed by the Sahaviriya Steel Group in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan. If the issuing process was illegal, the department should cancel the document.

Ms Sunee Chaiyarose Human rights commissioner said the NHRC had found many irregularities in the issuance of the land document, which put the fertile peat land into the hands of the private sector, but the Land Department had made no progress with the case. She said ''We informed the department a long time ago, but there has been no reply. It should urgently clarify the public's questions. The department issued the land ownership papers with no idea of how fertile it is.

Mr Pirote Mokdara VP of special projects for Sahaviriya, said in a press statement that the company's ownership of the land was legal. E said ''The company bought those plots of land legally and paid money at the Land Department. We are the legal owner of the land.”

Sahaviriya is facing strong local opposition to its plan to expand capacity by building the country's first smelter at the site. The project includes building a deep sea port. Last year Sahaviriya withdrew the EIA saying it wanted to exclude the controversial land from the project. The company has not yet submitted a revised environmental impact report to the ONEP for approval.

Sahaviriya has faced protests and confrontations with a group of villagers opposed to the steel mill. Last month, the villagers filed a complaint with police saying they were attacked by the company's workers. Sahaviriya denied this happened.