Gold mine ban ‘not final’
Experts believe junta order allows room for amendment later; Akara Resources says 1,000 workers will lose jobs. Environmental experts believe that the junta’s order on Tuesday to suspend gold mining operations is not final and there is room to reverse the decision or amend the order, even as Akara Resources pledged to comply with the diktat and stop mining operations. About 1,000 workers at the Chatree gold mine in Phichit province will likely to lose their jobs due to the order, according to a source at the company. The order issued under Article 44 on Tuesday by the National Council for Peace and Order called for the cessation of all gold mining operations with effect from January 1. The NCPO ordered relevant state agencies not to issue or renew gold mine exploration or mining concessions or metallurgy permits, because of conflicts over gold-mining operations in the country. However, experts urged the public to closely monitor implementation of the order.
