Court rules in favour of Karen people in contaminated Klity creek case

BANGKOK, Sept 11 (TNA) – Supreme Court upheld the Appeal Court’s verdict, ordering a led mine company to pay 36 million baht plus a 7.5 per cent interest rate to 151 Karen people, affected by contaminated water in the Klity creek in Kanchanuburi. The court also ordered the Lead Concentrates Thailand Co Ltd and six executives to rehabilitate the creek as the company is found guilty for their operation, causing the contamination in the water resource of the Klity community in Thong Pha Phum district. The lead contamination led to illnesses of local residents and harmed the environment. The Karen people, who travelled to hear the ruling are satisfied with the verdict after the Appeal Court earlier handed down the ruling, ordering the company to pay the compensation to the villagers but dismissed their call for the creek rehabilitation. The court said it was the authority of the Pollution Control Department to force the company to do so. The 151 Karen residents from lower Klity creek community filed a lawsuit against the company in Kanchanaburi Provincial Court in 2003. The verdict today ended 19 years of their fighting for justice. (TNA)