The rate of human rights violations has long been atrocious, and under successive governments, elected as well as dictatorial. Arguably, no group has been more abused than the residents of Wang Saphung district of Loei province. They have been bounced from pillar to post -- quite literally at times. Their tormentors and attackers have ranged from slick legal authorities to arrogant bureaucrats. At one point 200 armed men attacked and battered villagers for the "crimes" of opposing a gold mine operation while exercising their rights.
The trials of Wang Saphung began 12 years ago. A mining company, Tungkum Co, Ltd, set up operations in the district to mine gold. From the start, the company aggravated, harassed and lorded it over the residents. It soon became obvious that the firm had powerful allies. Government servants including district officials charged with protecting and advocating for local people did the opposite. Police did little or nothing to uphold the law. And soon it became obvious that the local military command was in on the plot to demean and try to intimidate the villagers, to the benefit of the mine.
Wang Saphung residents soon learned that gold mining Tungkum style was not good for their health. The mine operations polluted water and soil. The company's huge lorries soon tore up roads meant for light traffic. They roared through villages and drivers made it clear to anyone on the roads that the mining lorries moved first, and to clear the people off the roadways, because they weren't stopping even for children.
