The Stop Global Warming Association and 35 villagers from Rayong yesterday filed a petition against the construction of nine industrial projects in Map Ta Phut, contending that these projects have not yet complied with the Constitution's Article 67 (2).
All the projects, involved with mining, power generation, petrochemical and others, are part of the 181 industrial projects earlier listed by the association for not complying with the Constitution.
The petition, filed in the Central Administrative Court, charged the Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning Office, the National Environment Committee, the Primary Industries and Mines Department, the Industry Minister, Marine Department, the Royal Irrigation Department's director general, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, the Energy Minister, and the Energy Regulatory Commission with negligence.
The petition named Krungkasem's mine in Klaeng district, Indorama Petrochem's purified terephthal¬ic acid project, Thai Etoxylate, Asia Terminal, Glow SPP 3, Gecco1, National Power 2, and the Irrigation Department's Huay Somong reservoir.
Srisuwan Janya, president of the association, said it should be known next week whether the court would start the proceedings.
"This lawsuit is to retaliate against the government and government agencies. The gov¬ernment has tried to help those 65 projects [suspended earlier] to proceed. The gov¬ernment is showing a lack of sincerity in ordering those industrial projects to comply with the Constitution," he said.
He said the association is also mak¬ing a similar move next month against 1617 projects in Chon Buri, which will include about 100 villagers.
The association also issued a statement denouncing the government's negligence. Despite the formation of the fourparty panel, there is no sign that the government is ready to hold any parties responsible for causing environmental problems, it said.
It also criticised the Japan External Trade Organisation's attempts to lobby the Thai government, and threatened to turn its focus to Japanese industrial projects in Thailand as a retaliation.
