The World - News from June 25, 1986

Damage caused by demonstrators who burned a tantalum plant and destroyed other property in Thailand’s Phuket province was estimated by Thai officials at nearly $100 million. At least 41 people were arrested, and Thailand declared a state of emergency to last seven days. The protesters charged that the $76-million plant would have polluted the environment and cut tourism in the island province 400 miles south of Bangkok. It was to have produced tantalum for use in computer parts, jet engines, spacecraft and nuclear reactors.