The blockade of the first environmental and health public hearing for the planned Pak Bara deep-sea port in Satun that prompted the organisers to postpone the process is understandable. Over the years, the villagers have watched the public relations campaign that projects Pak Bara as a "green" project with frustration. As the military government revived the Pak Bara project, it allocated 120 million baht for a new EHIA report as well as a review of the old EIA. As a response to the Pak Bara conflict, Environment Minister Surasak Karnjanarat vowed to make the hearing process meaningful and clear all the flaws that heightened public suspicion. A number of development projects including the Pak Bara deep-sea port and coal-fired projects in the South need a serious review, with the environmental and health effects being truly assessed.

Source: Bangkok Post March 18, 2017 21:14 UTC