The World : Thais Declare Emergency

A state of emergency was declared on southern Thailand’s resort island of Phuket after tens of thousands of people protesting plans to open a metal refinery set fire to the plant, a hotel and six vehicles, officials said. Police reinforcements were rushed in, troops were put on alert and Thai Industry Minister Chirayu Isarakun Na Ayuthaya was evacuated by helicopter after being manhandled by a mob. The demonstrators charged that the refinery--which would produce tantalum, used in the aerospace, electronics and weapons industries--would pollute the environment and hurt tourism.