Dead fish spark hunger strike

PHUKET TOWN: Komin Buanoon today went into the second day of a hunger strike to protest over pollution that he says has killed the stock in his fish farm and those of nine other villagers. The villagers, from around Wat Saen Suk, in the southeast corner of Phuket Town, protested at the Phuket Provincial Hall over pollution which, they say, has killed more than 2,000 fish, valued at 80,000 baht. Komin Buanoon, 51, who lost an arm in an industrial accident in 1976, has vowed to eat no food and drink only water until the villagers’ grievances are answered to their satisfaction. “We have been using that land and breeding fish for more than 10 years and we never had a problem before,” he explained, adding that he raises garoupa, red snapper, giant sea perch, and striped marine catfish. “We just need officials to permanently close the pipelines that pour wastewater into the streams. To protest for my rights, I will not eat anything.” Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi, who encountered K. Komin at the offices today, said, “I will have to check who owns the land in front of Wat Saen Suk. Then we can work out how to solve the problem.” The villagers believe their fish are being killed by water contaminated with incinerated garbage being pumped into streams in the area.