Set up a legal assistance team for people In the case of transporting cadmium waste

Bangkok, Lawyers Council Set up a team to provide legal assistance to the people. In the case of moving cadmium waste from a landfill in Tak Province, along with 6 guidelines for legal assistance while the Prime Minister revealed that he had talked with the Minister of Justice, accepting that the DSI would go in and investigate the criminal case. Dr. Wichian Chubthaisong, President of the Lawyers Council Mr. Sanyapatchara Samart, Vice President of Operations, Acting Lt. Somchai Ameen, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Cases and Operations, Mr. Kwanchai Chotiphan, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Training and Academic Affairs, Mrs. Taddao Chaturaphakorn, Member and Secretary. The Environmental Committee held a press conference regarding the transfer of cadmium tailings from a landfill in Tak Province to areas in Samut Sakhon Province, Chonburi Province and Bangkok. Dr. Wichian Chubthaisong, President of the Lawyers Council, said that regarding the cadmium tailings case that is currently in the news, the Lawye rs Council has been the agency involved in this case since 2009 due to receiving requests for legal assistance. To ask for justice for more than 1,000 villagers in 3 sub-districts, Mae Ku Sub-district, Mae Tao Sub-district, and Phra That Pha Daeng Sub-district, Mae Sot District, Tak Province, who are affected by zinc mining. by entrepreneurs who have received concession certificates on Doi Pha Daeng The mining of zinc will contain cadmium residue as a by-product and is classified as a hazardous substance for both the environment and public health. Such cadmium has contaminated agricultural crops, especially rice, garlic and soybeans. And it affects the health of villagers who are sick from cadmium poisoning. The Lawyers Council has filed 6 cases to demand justice for the villagers at the Bangkok South Civil Court, Bangkok. Most of the cases have reached the end of the appeal stage, where the Environmental Court of Appeal has ruled that the business operators must compensate the villagers and There are 3 cases that have been submitted to the Supreme Court for Environmental Litigation. To request the Supreme Court to decide on the issue of environmental rehabilitation. and the amount of damages and filed a lawsuit with the Phitsanulok Administrative Court requesting the declaration of an environmental protection area. The Administrative Court ruled on August 14, 2013 to issue a ministerial regulation designating the Mae Tao River Basin, Mae Sot District, Tak Province, as an environmental protection area within 90 days from the date the case was final. The cadmium residue It is well known that operators must have measures to manage landfills forever. According to the environmental impact assessment report But when it appeared that a cadmium waste landfill had been dug in Tak Province. and is transported from the originating landfill to various destination locations President of the Lawyers Council also revealed that Guidelines for proceeding with this matter He had a discussion with Pol. Col. Thawee Sodsong, Ministe r of Justice, and was informed that Criminal proceedings will order DSI to investigate. Environmental cases Claim civil damages The Lawyers Council will provide legal assistance. and defines 6 operational guidelines 1. A working group will be appointed to provide legal assistance to the people in cases where people and communities are affected by the mining and transfer of cadmium waste from the landfill of the zinc ore smelting plant in Tak Province. To other places 2. Will file claims and prosecute according to environmental law against the owner. or the owner of the pollution or source of pollution, such as the owner or possessor of cadmium waste. Owner or occupant of a mineral smelting factory Owner or transporter of mineral tailings Owner or receiver of waste and all related persons By having to remedy the damage to health The physical and mental health of the people and communities affected 3. File a claim and prosecute government officials or government agencies that allow the transport of hazardous waste from landfills within the zinc smelting factory. without authority to perform duties illegally By having to compensate for the impacts that have occurred to the people 4. Lawyers Council We urge the Institute of Forensic Science to conduct blood and urine tests on people. Tak Province people and communities surrounding the zinc smelting factory Including people in Mae Ku, Mae Tao, Phra That Pha Daeng subdistricts who were affected by cadmium leaks from the zinc mining operations of the operator (Pha Daeng Industry Public Company Limited) and the provinces. Samut Sakhon Chonburi Province Bangkok This is an area where cadmium waste was found to be stored or in possession. and other people or communities that store or possess cadmium waste. 5. We urge the government sector to push and pass legislation regarding the release and transfer of pollutants (PRTR - Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) as a measure for operators to disclose information on pollutant emissions resulting from Produced in a facto ry So that people can access information and check nearby sources of pollution that may affect the environment in which they live. There are clear criteria for measuring pollution that must be reported to relevant agencies. Let's come into force quickly. and asked to inspect the cadmium sludge trap in the zinc mining area. and the cadmium sludge landfill in the landfill within the factory that they have followed the steps of the environmental impact assessment report (EIA report) and disclosed the information to the public. 6. The Lawyers Council considers that Cadmium residue is a hazardous waste detected in various factories in Samut Sakhon, Chonburi, and Bangkok. Must be disposed of or landfilled in a factory that has a type license. 101 (Total waste quality adjustment plant - Central Waste Treatment) (landfill hazardous waste) only. Cannot be destroyed or landfilled elsewhere. And since the zinc smelting plant in Tak Province is not a factory with a Type 101 license (combined waste quality improvement pl ant - Central Waste Treatment - hazardous waste landfill), it cannot bring cadmium waste that is hazardous waste back. Can come to landfill in the factory. Unless you get a 101 license first, but a 101 license requires you to make an EIA report. and has received permission first. So it's not easy. Acting Lt. Col. Somchai Ameen, chairman of the sub-committee for litigation and operations, reiterated that on this last issue it is important for the Ministry of Industry to answer the question of what was said. that the cadmium waste would be returned to the original landfill There is no permit at the destination in Tak Province. 101 Is it possible to land it in the same place and in the area where the waste originates? In Tak Province, according to the report, there are 1500 rai, with 7 landfills, 2 of which have already been dug. Therefore must go and check according to the report. How to follow health and environmental protection measures? And the remaining ones have been inspected or not? that it is still com plete Or has it been illegally dug out? Because the observation has a motive for trying. Dig up hazardous waste and think it might be because cadmium, if smelted, is worth over a hundred thousand baht per ton. So it might be an incentive. If not directed well This will happen again. Mrs. Taddao Chaturaphakorn, committee member and secretary The Environment Committee said that from monitoring public health There is concern because there is 100% testing of not only the workers but also the surrounding people. Use random inspection In fact, people in high-risk areas should have all tests done. For example, health management after a toxic spill. In Japan at There was a public health examination and it was found that it takes 10 years for people to show symptoms from being affected. Therefore, it is considered that the government is not rushing to conclusions. If the test doesn't detect it at this time, it says no danger has been found. Mr. Pairot Chamlongrat, Vice Chairman of the Sub-Committee for Litigation an d Operations, revealed that the council where the attorney had been in the area since 2010, before the lawsuit was filed, found that villagers in 3 sub-districts in Mae Sot District were sick for unknown reasons. And later it was discovered that some villagers had cadmium in their bodies. From living in the surrounding area and even later in 2013, the Administrative Court ruled To issue ministerial regulations To issue a ministerial regulation designating the Mae Tao River Basin, Mae Sot District, Tak Province, as an environmental protection area within 90 days from the date the case was finalized. 10 years have passed and until today, the Mae Tao River Basin, Mae Sot District, Tak Province has not yet been revived. return the soil to its original condition And it was determined that the villagers in the said area, which is a lowland area, had the villagers plant sugarcane. which each person's way of life used to do Some people still have to illegally grow rice. Therefore, he called on the government to be serious about restoring the area to its original condition. Because the villagers have suffered from both the environment and their health for a long time. Source: Thai News Agency