"They have failed to carry out their duties when they decided not to declare Map Ta Phut area a pollution-control zone, but then allowed the construction of more factories in the area," the network's co-ordinator Sutti Atchasai said yesterday.

Conducted between 1997 and 2001, a National Cancer Institute study found Map Ta Phut residents had three to five times more reported incidences of leukaemia than people living elsewhere.

The Network of Eastern People strongly believes that Map Ta Phut residents suffered because they had to live near "toxic" industrial estates.

The network wanted the government and the NEB to declare Map Ta Phut area a pollution-control zone, but the authorities recommended further studies before making such decision.

Yesterday, Sutti said his network was not rallying for the removal of Surayud from his post, because his interim government would only last a few more months anyway.

"But we will inform society that this government does not do what benefits people in general," he said.

Sutti said his network would organise a caravan against the industrial threat on Sunday. He hoped more than 100 vehicles will join the caravan, which will travel from Rayong's Tambon Tapong to an area in front of the Map Ta Phut industrial estate.

"We will stop to talk to people along the way so that they understand about pollution better," he said.

After the caravan ends, members of the network will use a stage inside Srimuang Park in Rayong to deliver speeches.

The Nation

Rayong