The suspension order was issued on December 13, 2016 on the grounds that the operation had caused environmental and health problems to residents in the area. Australia’s Kingsgate Consolidated, which owns Akara Resources, later accused the Thai government of violating the Thai-Australia Free Trade Agreement for failing to follow the proper procedure when it shut down the gold mine. He said the industry, foreign affairs and justice ministries, as well as other related agencies, would team up with lawyers to defend the NCPO’s order in the international arbitration committee that will resolve the conflict under the two countries’ free-trade agreement. However, the Thai government still hoped the conflict would be resolved in an amicable way if Kingsgate Consolidated abided by Thai laws on environmental and public health protection. Previously, Kingsgate Consolidated’s operation in Thailand was promoted by Thailand’s Board of Investment with tax and other privileges but its Thai operation was also fined by Thai authorities for violating environmental, factory and other related laws prior to being suspended.

Source: The Nation Bangkok December 30, 2017 18:00 UTC