E-waste alarm in Prachin Buri
PRACHIN BURI - Another foreign-run electronic waste plant has been shut down, reportedly after operating illegally for more than a year in a national reserved forest area in this eastern province.
Electronic waste plant operating illegally in a reserved forest in Prachin Buri has been shut down after more than a year of operation, prompting questions about the delay in enforcement. The factory, located in Village 7 of tambon Krok Sombun in Si Maha Phot district, was found to be sorting, crushing and compacting scrap metal, electrical wires and electronic parts without the necessary permits.
Provincial governor Veerapan Dee-on ordered the factory to suspend operations and seized materials, equipment and other items as evidence for legal proceedings. The inspection was prompted by a report from Forest Resource Management Office 9, which confirmed the plant's location within the Khwae Rabom and Si Yat national reserved forests.
Local residents and activists expressed disappointment, stating that the action was a case of too little, too late, as similar factories had previously been ordered to suspend operations. The Prachinburi Strong Network, led by Sumet Rianphongnam, questioned the need for a governor's order and raised concerns over possible conflicts of interest involving Chinese investors.
Civil society groups also alleged a 2-million-baht bounty had been placed on Sumet and fellow environmental campaigner Sunthorn Komkai, urging police protection for the two activists.
Written by urgent.news from Bangkok Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
