Local fishermen protest against coal pier construction

Villagers of the Laem Hin village in the southern province of Krabi on Monday brought more than 50 boats to block the construction site of a coal pier by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). The latter eventually bowed to the protesters’ demand and decided to put off the construction.

One of the villagers said they objected to the coal pier due to fears over its impacts to their livelihood. More than 300 households in this area earned a living from fishery and they might be adversely affected by the new pier, the protester said.

The villagers called off their protest an hour later but sent their representatives to take turn watching the construction site. They will converge there again if the EGAT resumes the construction.

The EGAT said the construction would be put on hold until the villagers gave the green light to the project.