Prachin Buri Residents Demand Halt to EEC Expansion
Residents of Prachin Buri rallied at the provincial government complex demanding the Prime Minister halt plans to include the province in the Eastern Economic Corridor, citing concerns over Chinese investment and environmental impacts on lo
Residents and environmental rights advocates rallied outside the Prachin Buri Provincial Government Complex on Monday to oppose plans to bring the province into the Eastern Economic Corridor, saying they would remain at the site until Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul formally signed an order halting the move.
Sumet Rianphongnam and Sunthorn Khomkhai, environmental human rights defenders from the Prachin Strong Network, joined local residents at the government complex in Mai Khet subdistrict, Mueang Prachin Buri district.
Protesters displayed banners calling on authorities to reconsider development plans they fear could affect local communities, livelihoods, natural resources and the environment. Signs read "Prachin Buri does not want the EEC" and "Stop giving Prachin Buri away to Chinese investors."
The group said the gathering was peaceful and called for genuine public consultation before any projects with potentially significant local impacts were allowed to proceed. Authorities were deployed around the government complex to maintain order and facilitate traffic, with no major disruption reported.
Protesters also called on the Prachin Buri governor to sign a letter opposing the province's inclusion in the EEC. One demonstrator wore a mask resembling the provincial governor with the word "China" written across his stomach and fake 1,000-baht banknotes hung around his neck. He scattered the imitation notes in what organisers described as a symbolic protest against concerns over Chinese-funded factories and the handling of industrial development by local authorities.
Chalermchai Klahan read out a statement saying the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee had agreed in principle on 20 May to include Prachin Buri in the EEC. The network said residents had repeatedly submitted objections and supporting information but believed their concerns had not received meaningful consideration.
The protesters said they were also following up on talks with the government on 30 June, when Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, acting as a government representative, pledged to raise their demands with Anutin, who chairs the EEC Policy Committee. More than 45 days had passed without a clear response or visible progress, the group said.
The network said it had submitted the names of 11,207 supporters to the government and listed six main reasons for opposing Prachin Buri's inclusion in the EEC, including the province's strengths in organic agriculture, wellness tourism, upstream forests and natural attractions near Khao Yai and Thap Lan national parks. The group also cited existing industrial impacts, noting that Prachin Buri has faced problems involving waste-processing plants, smelters and industrial facilities since regulatory changes introduced after 2016.
