Now the 50-year-old auto company manager is taking up the fight on behalf of other residents of the 1,000-household Chaiya-preuk housing estate on Theparak Road to seek remedy from the government.

"I moved here over a year ago in hopes of living in peace, but the new airport just turned this into a very noisy place. Now there are 600 to 700 flights flying overhead daily.

"The most unbearable time is from 10pm to 3am, when the biggest jets roar past. The noise is around 71-85 decibels, according to noise-measuring equipment I just purchased from Japan," says Somporn. "This housing estate has about 4,000 residents. According to the latest survey covering 617 of the 1,000 households, 437 households, or 71 per cent, want the government to buy back their properties as they want to move out.

"The combined asking price of these 437 properties is around Bt2.12 billion, for a total of 72 rai of land and 437 houses," says Somporn.

Somporn is one of the ten chief representatives of a coalition created by residents of 62 housing estates and communities affected by the new airport. Altogether a total of 20,000 people in 5,200 households are affected by the noise and other pollution caused by the airport.

According to Airports of Thailand (AOT), the partly state-owned agency running Suvarnabhumi, the government is considering various options to buy back residential properties where the noise exposure forecast (NEF) is 40 or greater.

For properties where the NEF is 30-40, AOT will consider paying for cost of soundproofing the affected places.

"So far, we've submitted five complaints to the authorities after residents, especially old people and kids, at my housing estate fell sick because of the excessive noise," Somporn says.

"Drug stores here also ran out of sleep pills in the first few days after the airport's opening as many people endured sleepless nights. Even with air-conditioning, there is still noise and rooftop vibration.

"My wife is also unhappy and her health is worsening due to insufficient rest. So we want to sell the place to the government and live somewhere else. I hope to get Bt4.7 million. It's the replacement cost for this 80-square-wah house plus renovation."

The auto firm executive has been living in the Theparak area for the past 18 years, but he says the government never informed people in the area of the potential environmental effects that would be caused by the airport project.

While Somporn's housing estate is 16 kilometres from the new airport by road, it is only 9.3km away as the crow flies.

In the interim period until some solution has been decided, Somporn says the government should consider imposing a curfew on the airport from 10pm to five in the morning so as to as stop the noise during the night-time.

Secondly, the government should move domestic air services back to the old Don Muang airport and build an express transport link between Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi.

On November 21 last year the Cabinet approved a Bt7-billion budget for AOT to deal with environmental problems resulting from the new airport's opening. Somporn says affected residents have tentatively agreed to give the government another six months to remedy the situation.

"By June, we hope to see a written commitment from the authorities on buying back properties with NEF of 40 or more. We hope the government is not just buying time and delaying help. Otherwise, some residents may no longer show patience. They've already threatened to rally again in front of the new airport. About 300 people from

Lat Krabang communities staged the first demonstration at Suvarnabhumi recently.

"In addition, we've talked about seeking sympathy and help from the Administrative Court. We believe that our right to lead normal and healthy lives has been infringed upon by the new airport's opening," Somporn says.

Nophakhun Limsamarnphun

nop1122@yahoo.com