Abstract:
The purposes of this qualitative research were to explore the causes and impacts of
conflict due to the Laemchabang port in Chonburiprovince and to propose a model for conflict
management and resolutions between the government and the community. The research methods
used observation, in-dept interviews, focus group, and the structured interview as the research
tool. The 9 key informants consisted of villagers, agent government executive agent and scholar.
The collected data was analyzed by content analysis.
The results showed that: (1) The causes of conflict due to Laemchabang Port Project
Phase 1 and 2 were such as the policy implementation in the top down method, The different
interests, hate and distrust relationship among government and community, and misinformation or
distortion.(2) The conflict impacts consisted of the positive impact such as economic prosperity of
the country as a whole, people in the community had jobs at industrial estate, owning restaurant
or rented accommodation and the negative impacts such as the communitydivided into pro and
con toward the port, emotional effects, environmental problems, career changed,no right
documents, the lack of trust toward government agencies.and(3) Conflict resolution between
government and community sectors. In the past the government used confrontation or competing
method and verbal or emotional violence while the community employed avoiding,
confrontation or competing and leading to the positive ways. Currently Laemchabang Port uses
the method of access to the community to understand and to develop while the community uses
the collaboration and the social network which will make them living together in peace.
The research suggestions were the government should follow the principles of good
governance, building collaboration relationships with other multi-sectors and developing the
information technology for conflict management and resolution to prevent any errors reproduction
of the project. Thefuture research will be exploring the best practice of controversial port projects
both in Thailand and other countries