Villagers up in arms over power plant

The hostages, including a project executive, were released after several hours.

However, the protestors continued their blockades on Route 304 in Bang Khla district and gathered outside the project site, belonging to Siam Energy, pending negotiations with provincial governor Suraphol Phongthadsirikul. Results of the talks were not available at press time yesterday.

Shortly after midnight yesterday, 300 villagers gathered outside the project site to protest construction of the plant. They became angry after finding a company executive trying to flee after their request to meet with the management.

The villagers later swarmed over a police truck carrying a man they believed was the executive, seizing him and a policeman driving the vehicle. They later flattened the truck's tyres and set a fire in front of it.

Both hostages, who were not harmed, were released after police-mediated talks which saw a deal struck between villagers and the company. They will be not charged with any offence for holding the two men and the company has moved away heavy machinery prepared for construction work.

Local journalists were intimidated and body searched by the protestors, who were suspicious police and the company staff were among them.

A protest leader campaigning against this power plant project and several others, Chavalit Ngor-thiad, later announced he would withdraw, saying the villagers' thoughts were different from his and the protest activities were too difficult to control.