Page 23 - รายงานการปฏิบัติตามกติการะหว่างประเทศว่าด้วยสิทธิทางเศรษฐกิจ สังคม และวัฒนธรรม

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higher than the threshold limits and that the Estate did not have

proper disposal of hazardous wastes commensurate with the increasing

number of industrial plants. There was also a study conducted by

independent experts at the request of people in the affected area

who believed their health problems were caused by the accumulation of

hazardous substances in their body. The study revealed that there was a

significantly high level of concentration of cells with DNA abnormality in

the samples. Although the study could not specify what substances the

samples took in to create such abnormality, it could indicate that

the samples in the study received certain toxic substances that had

destructive effects on the DNA in their cells. Given the result of the

study, the Network of People in the Eastern Region then filed a lawsuit

against government agencies concerned at Rayong Administrative

Court and requested the Court to issue an order to the National

Environment Board to declare the Map Ta Phut locality and nearby

areas to be a pollution control zone so that appropriate measures

could be taken to address the problem. On 3 March 2012, the Court

ordered the relevant agencies to comply with the complainant’s

request within 60 days.

7. The new Constitution came into force in August 2007. However,

the process for approval of development projects that may have

serious effects on a community has not been carried out in accordance

with the relevant provisions of the new Constitution. On 25 August

2009, the Cabinet approved new 76 development projects without