NLA accepts civic groups’ petition against the amendment to Minerals Act
National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) 03 August 2016 | Kitti Cheevasittiyanon, Rodney McNeil
Representatives of several civic groups have presented a joint petition to the National Legislative Assembly to oppose the planned amendment of the law governing the mining business in the country.
NLA’s First Vice President Surachai Liengboonlertchai on Tuesday met with members of the Assembly for the Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources and representatives of 40 other civic groups, who presented him with their petition.
In the petition, the groups asked the NLA and the government to withdraw the draft amendment of the Minerals Act from the agenda because it won't solve any problems caused by the mining business.
They also claimed that the draft amendment, if passed, may even cause more problems while suggesting that the amended law may also be in conflict with several other laws.
In addition, the petitioners called on the government and the NLA to draft a new amendment that allows people’s participation in the process because it is they who are affected by the law and the mining business.
Mr. Surachai informed the groups that he will pass their petition on to the special committee, which is in charge of the matter, to work on the draft amendment as the NLA has no authority to withdraw it from the agenda.
