Residents block trucks at Loei mine
People in Loei have urged government agencies to inspect the Tungkum gold mine amid reports of illegal mining, producing many tonnes of ore being despite the mine’s permission to use local forestland having expired. The Rak Ban Kerd (Love Our Hometown) community group has blocked the entrance to the gold mine in Wang Saphung district since Monday, after they spotted 11 large trucks driving into the mine that morning, allegedly to transport more than 190 tonnes of gold ore out of the area. Pornthip Hongchai, a member of the Rak Ban Kerd group and villager from Ban Nongnabong, said on February 21 that people suspected the Tungkum mining company had been operating illegally after operations were suspended four years ago.
