The Dying Beach (9 page)

D
AENG:
You don't understand. We do not want them to migrate. Without the birds to control them, the insects will take over, destroy our crops and spread diseases. (Others in the group murmur in agreement.)

N
UKUN:
Perhaps the insects will also not find the environment to their liking.

D
AENG:
So now you are saying the project will scare both the birds and the insects away?

N
UKUN:
Excuse me, let me refer your concerns to the consultant responsible for Forestry and Wildlife. I am really not qualified to comment on this issue.

The more Jayne read, the more intrigued she became by the project, and the more frustrated by the lack of information on who, what, where and why. Pla seemed to have deliberately omitted any identifying features from her notes. For all Jayne knew, she'd used pseudonyms for the consultants and villagers, too, leaving her with almost nothing to start filling in the blanks. Why would Pla take such detailed notes but leave out the most important detail of all?

Though she rarely deviated from her role as scribe during the meetings, Pla added her own comments to the end of the transcript. These became more frequent over time, with the two most recent transcripts annotated more extensively than the others.

Jayne decamped from the veranda to the hotel room, switched on the air conditioner and lay down on the bed to scrutinise the last of the entries.

14

Pla took her customary position in the centre of the crowd towards the back, where she could overhear the hushed comments of those reluctant to speak out. Khun Nukun, the public relations officer, had brought three people with him to the village meeting, including a foreigner.

‘I understand people in this village have concerns about the project,' Nukun said, as everyone settled. ‘So I have invited these experts to join us at this evening's meeting. May I introduce Professor Azim from India, who studied engineering in America and now works for an international agency in Bangkok.'

Professor Azim's smile pushed his cheeks against the black plastic frame of his glasses. He had tufts of grey hair above his ears and wore a snug-fitting charcoal safari suit. He pressed his hands together and shook them in greeting.

‘Also Doctor Budsaba, who is leader of the team responsible for surface water quality, aquatic biology and public health.'

In her high-heeled shoes, buttoned-to-the-neck blouse and fitted skirt, Doctor Budsaba looked as misplaced among the villagers as porcelain among earthenware. When she pressed her perfectly manicured hands together and bowed, her hair did not move.

‘And finally, Mister Kraichat, who will be translating for Professor Azim.'

A man with thick lips and a thin moustache greeted the villagers with a
wai
.

‘I invite the
chao ban
to outline the concerns of the villagers,' Nukun said.

The villagers looked expectantly at the wiry man in the front row, who loudly cleared his throat.

‘My name is Uncle Amnat,' he began. ‘I am chief of this village. I have been chief for fourteen years. My father was
chao ban
before me.

‘We had the experience of a project like this in our village before, back when my father was chief. At that time, the representatives from the company assured us we would become rich from the project. They said we had nothing to lose, only to gain. Same as you say, Mister Nukun.

‘It was true for a short time. Some local people were given work on the project and others made money at the small morning market out front of the site.

‘But the riches we were promised did not come. Instead, when the project did not find what it was looking for, the company used dynamite to go deeper into the ground and the explosion caused the temple wall to crack. In the Muslim village neighbouring ours, the mosque wall cracked, too.

‘After the temple wall cracked, there was an outbreak of dengue fever in the village. Fifteen people died, ten of them children.'

‘
Aie
, I remember,' Mae Yada cried, ‘a terrible time. My own niece was among the dead.'

‘People say it was because the temple wall cracked that bad luck visited our village,' Uncle Amnat continued. ‘We do not wish this bad luck to come back again.'

Mothers tightened their hold on their babies and several people touched the amulets they wore for protection around their necks.

‘Professor Azim, could I invite you to respond?' Nukun said.

The engineer smiled again and leaned forward as he spoke through the interpreter.

‘I understand Chief Amnat's concerns and I am aware of the project you speak of. It is on the site of the abandoned project, of course, where the company is seeking to establish its new initiative. I want to reassure the village chief and everyone in his community that engineering techniques have come a long way in the past twenty-five years. In the unlikely event that we need to utilise explosives in the construction of the new project, we'll be able to restrict the impact to the project site.'

‘It's hard to feel confident about your newfangled engineering techniques when you cannot even say for sure if there will be any more explosions,' Mae Yada cut in again.

The professor's smile was unwavering as he listened to Kraichat's translation. ‘Auntie makes a valid point. Perhaps it will inspire more confidence to know that regardless of whether additional blasting is required, the company has agreed to put me and my team at your disposal to conduct an audit to ensure the soundness of all public buildings in relation to seismic disturbances of any nature.'

Pla saw confused looks on the faces of those closest to her. She caught the attention of Mae Yada, shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.

‘Khun Kraichat,' the old woman said. ‘Please ask the professor to explain again using simple words.'

Professor Azim nodded in response to the request. ‘Of course, my apologies.'

He cleared his throat and began again. ‘I will personally inspect and if necessary reinforce all public buildings in your village to ensure they can withstand vibrations caused by industrial use of explosives or even natural phenomena such as earthquakes.'

‘Never heard of an earthquake in this district,' Mae Yada muttered.

‘You say you will reinforce the buildings as necessary,' Chief Amnat spoke up. ‘But who will cover the cost of this reinforcement?'

‘The company will cover the cost of my time and also any construction materials that are required. Assuming you agree with this proposal, villagers would be asked to contribute their labour.'

‘That sounds reasonable to me,' Bapit said.

He straightened his bony shoulders to better show off the Charoen Sand and Gravel Supplies company logo on the chest pocket of his safari jacket. Mae Yada spat a jet of betel nut juice in his direction. Bapit ignored her.

‘And the mosque in the neighbouring village?' Uncle Amnat added.

‘We will also inspect the mosque, strengthen it and any other public buildings if necessary. Same arrangement. Company covers costs, villagers provide labour.'

‘You will need the approval of the imam.'

Professor Azim smiled and nodded as though this wouldn't be a problem.

‘If I might also weigh in,' Doctor Budsaba said.

Nukun nodded for her to continue.

‘My study of the public health records suggests the increased incidence of dengue fever in this and nearby villages was the result of seasonal variation and—'

‘Simple words, please,' Mae Yada interjected.

‘Back at the time you referred to, many villages in the district experienced more cases of dengue fever than usual,' Doctor Budsaba said, in the tone of a primary school teacher. ‘Some years are worse than others. If the monsoon starts early or lingers late, there are more mosquitoes and hence more cases of
khai sah
.'

She must have seen the scepticism on the faces of the villagers because she hastened to add, ‘The company intends to help prevent future outbreaks of dengue fever by making sure there are no exposed water sources at the project site where mosquitoes might breed. We will test workers with any signs of fever and extend this service to their families. Treatment will be provided through the new medical care unit.'

‘What about the new medical care unit, Doctor?' Pla said. ‘We hear there's no actual timeline on that.'

‘Baseless rumours,' Nukun piped up, glowering at Pla. ‘Construction of the medical care unit will commence at the same time as construction on the project site.'

‘The unit is necessary to provide health care for the workforce,' Doctor Budsaba added. ‘The company considers it a priority.'

A more favourable murmur went around the group.

‘What more will it take for you people to see this for the great opportunity it is?' Bapit said. ‘The experts here have patiently listened to all your concerns and proposed a solution to each one. What more can you want?'

‘Easy for you to say. You operate a sand and gravel supply company.' This from a man named Choom, who wore grey slacks and a buttoned-up shirt the same pale yellow as the packet of 555 cigarettes in his breast pocket. ‘What about me? What compensation will there be for me when my diesel generator business goes broke because of this project?'

‘Your compensation will be the new business opportunities the project brings to our district,' Bapit said. ‘It's called progress.'

‘It's not progress if the
khlong
becomes polluted and all the fish die,' said another man, his skin so dark Pla could barely make out the
sak yant
tattoo of a turtle on his bare chest. ‘This will affect not only our livelihoods, but our food supply.'

A baby squawked as if giving voice to a wider protest.

‘The project will require some water to be taken from and discharged into the
khlong
,' Professor Azim said in response to Kraichat's translation. ‘However, all wastewater generated by the project, domestic or industrial, will be treated to meet Industrial Department Standards and, in some cases, even exceed them.'

‘For example,' Doctor Budsaba said, ‘regulations require warm water to be kept in holding and retention ponds for three hours. This project will keep water for a whole day to ensure the temperature is reduced to normal levels before being discharged.'

‘A good example.' Professor Azim acknowledged, with another jovial smile.

‘Furthermore,' the doctor added, emboldened by the compliment, ‘the company will regularly monitor water quality during both the construction and operation phases.'

Professor Nazim nodded. ‘The treatment of wastewater in this project has been so well planned, the impact on natural water bodies is minimal. I'd stake my professional reputation on it.'

‘What about the transportation of fuel by barge?' the fisherman said. ‘A major spill would kill everything.'

‘The issue of fuel transportation has been brought to my attention by a number of villagers,' Professor Azim said. ‘The company is researching alternative fuel transportation routes, including a pipeline. This should allay any concerns.'

‘This project should not be at all controversial,' Nukun said, folding his arms. ‘I've worked with communities who were asked to sacrifice their land for the greater good of the Thai people. No one is being asked to give up his land for this project. The project will bring jobs, better services, higher living standards with no significant negative environmental impacts.'

‘Hear, hear,' Bapit said.

‘You can stick your new business opportunities up your arse,' Choom muttered under his breath.

‘This will be the last consultation meeting for now,' Khun Nukun said loudly, bringing the group back to order. ‘We'll finalise the EIA and submit it to the Office of Environmental Policy and Planning. Your concerns will be included in the report, together with the mitigation measures we'll propose to address them.'

‘Will we be given a copy of the report?'

‘Of course, if you wish it.'

‘We do,' Amnat said. ‘Now let us share some tea and fruit.'

Pla closed her notebook. She spotted Choom standing apart from the rest of the group, lighting a cigarette.

‘Is your business really in trouble, older brother?' she asked him.

‘Do you reckon anyone's gonna want to buy diesel generators once the power plant is up and running?' he snapped, blowing smoke at the crowd over her shoulder.

‘
Kaw thort
,' she said, blushing. ‘Is there anything I can do to help? Appeal to the company, perhaps?'

‘Don't worry about me, little sister. I'm entrepreneurial. I've got plans. Shrimp farming, that's where the big money is.'

‘Oh no, not shrimp farming?' Pla couldn't hide her dismay.

‘That's right, little sister,' Choom said, oblivious to her discomfort. ‘There are hundreds of kilometres of coastline in this province ripe for commercial development.'

‘But most of it is mangrove forest.'

‘Exactly, unproductive land.'

‘But mangrove deforestation has terrible consequences for coastal communities and—'

‘You don't know what you're talking about,' Choom said, pointing at her with the lit end of his cigarette.

‘But—'

‘Miss Pla, we need you here.'

Mae Yada's summons cut in on their conversation. Pla saw the old woman had accosted Doctor Budsaba, who was looking fragile. She nodded to indicate she would join them and turned back to finish the conversation. But Choom had disappeared, his cigarette broken and smouldering where he had stood.

Pla thought to add a comment to her notes as she was getting into bed later that night. She used a torch under the covers so as not to disturb Suthita.

‘Public relations strategy is working,' she wrote.