Thai court orders firm to pay villagers for mining damages

The court ruled the firm must pay affected villagers up to 200,000 baht (S$7,866) for the impacts caused by its operations. Read more at straitstimes.com.

BANGKOK - A Thai court ordered a mining firm on March 24 to compensate nearly 400 villagers for health and environmental damages linked to its decades-long operations, awarding up to just over US$6,000 (S$7,673) per person.

The case stems from long-running complaints against Akara Resources’ gold mine in Thailand’s central province of Phichit, where residents have alleged contamination of water sources and adverse health effects.

Owned by Australian gold and silver producer Kingsgate Consolidated and operated by its Thai subsidiary Akara, the Chatree mine began operations in 2001 but faced legal challenges and was closed in 2016, before reopening three years ago.

A Bangkok civil court ruled on March 24 that the company must pay affected villagers up to 200,000 baht (S$7,866) for the impacts caused by its operations.

“The defendant’s operations have affected both the plaintiffs and the environment, which is a key source of their livelihood,” one of the judges said in court.

“The defendant’s actions therefore constitute a violation of the plaintiff’s rights.”