Udon Thani, Thailand: Learning “development” from villagers rising up against potash mine

By Tipakson Manpati, 3 February 2010

On 31 January 2009, a big group of villagers from Environmental Conservation Club of Udonthani were leading march campaign to protect their rights to live peacefully without potash mining project. They walked about 1-2 kilometers on main road through villages with cheery faces and saying messages. “We want our land free, no potash mining project. Community’s rights must come first. Potash mine will only benefit corporations, not people here.”

Packs of youth joined in the march. They are from Mahasarakam University, Khonkaen University and a youth group from the North Thailand. The march headed to Arun Thamarangsri temple in Non Som Boon village where the villagers organized an 8th anniversary merit rice ceremony as fundraising activity for the Environmental Conservation Club of Udonthani. They have been doing these campaign activities to raise public awareness on negative impacts of potash mining project as well as to gather public support in their struggle.

Youths who participated in the villagers’ campaign shared their voices and opinions on fair development.

Wiyada Chumpon, Mahasarakam University student. She comes from Loei province in the region that already faced sad experiences from gold and copper mining. Until today, there are still some companies want to dig for more underground resources in her province.

With her eager, Wiyada joined with friends in the rice fundraising activity and attended a trip study to learn why and how the villagers have been protecting their land from potash mine.

“My aim to come here is to learn what potash is. I wanted to know why the villagers here don’t want companies to mine. Before, I saw a mine in my province. I didn’t know what kind of mine it was, but I heard that it has negative impacts. Villagers in mining area faced with dirty dust. I learned and now I know the villagers’ reasons why they don’t want the mine.”

Wiyada said she was impressed by solidarity of the villagers that they rose up to combat with a mega project and (some) people in power. She concluded that youths can also be a powerful part of movements toward the development that ensure human livelihoods from negative impacts.

“Power of new generation gathering into action will be able to fight for community and public interests. If we have solidarity and strong dedication, no matter our task is small or big, we will achieve our goals.”

“I want advanced development for industry and technology in Thailand, but I want it to be adapted to Thai livelihoods as we based on agriculture livelihood for a long time. We can develop our country in many ways. However, development must have safeguard for impacts. There must be mechanisms to prevent impacts from the development and make sure that it benefits people.”  Said Wiyada

Nattawut Krompakdee from Student for Development Club, Khonkaen University. He is studying in social development major. It was his first time to participate in the villagers’ activities against potash mine. Joining the activities made worthwhile lessons learned for him to understand problems that communities in Esan region are facing. Learning from villagers’ opinions also help answered questions he has in the classroom.

“I learned to understand problems in Esan – my hometown. I tell problems I have seen to my friends in the university and people that they may not know about it. Field study enhances my knowledge. It adds my understanding from theories and concepts on community management and solving problems.” Said Nuttawut

Many times, development project tends to be claimed in a way to increase advanced economy, advanced technology for modern life. Some people might think that development project can make a better life. It will bring facilities while some people can make more money and even have more power. Many people hope the development can even make their lives in the modern world become easier or someone could say simpler.

I want development as well, but I want fair development project regarding full people’s participation, healthy environment and nature for human and earth creatures. I want it with deep concern on fundamental living standard of human to live with clean air to breath, clean water to drink and enough food to eat. I want the development project that encourages stakeholders, especially in the local area to hold their rights in making decisions whether they want it or not and how they want it.

Following is Nuttawut’s opinion on development. This is another way we can think of development.

“I think development is to make local community be existent. People can be self-reliant and they can make a good living. People can keep their culture and tradition toward next generations. People are not necessarily to have big houses or buildings or a lot of money to buy food to live. This is my basic understanding about development for now.”