The fund was agreed on at a meeting between Uthai, factory executives and residents' representatives.

The fund responds to demands from residents that the authority and manufacturers in the estate shoulder responsibility for ill villagers.

However, Uthai said the fund was just one way among others that the authority and factories support nearby communities. "It is not an admission of responsibility for their illnesses," he said.

Since Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate opened in 1990, residents of 25 Map Ta Phut communities have been diagnosed with respiratory problems and several kinds of cancer.

A National Cancer Institute study showed the incidence of cancers, including leukaemia, in the Map Ta Phut area was higher than the national average.

Uthai said IEAT would initially pay Bt10 million into the fund. Estate factories will be asked for donations.

Villager Noi Jaitrong is dissatisfied and does not believe the fund will benefit residents.

Campaign for Alternative Industry Network member Penchome Tang is sceptical about the reasons behind the fund and said contributions from manufacturers should be compulsory, not donations. "It seems the fund was set up to cool down the conflict between the estate and residents. If the IEAT is sincere about helping people it should accept that people's illnesses are associated with pollution discharged from factories and the fund

is there for compensation," she said.

While vowing to ease residents' suffering, Uthai continued to oppose a Pollution Control Department recommendation that the estate be declared a pollution-control zone. "We have to wait until relationships between the illnesses and the pollutants is proved. To declare a pollution-control zone without concrete evidence will cause damage," he said.

Pennapa Hongthong

The Nation

MAP TA PHUT, RAYONG