The conflict escalated last month when villagers and a leader of the anti-mining group Kon Rak Ban Kerd--which means "Love Our Hometown Group"--claimed they were threatened by a former senior military officer, Lt Gen Poramet Promnak, who led a team of 16 men to Na Nong Bong village to force open a road.The villagers became concerned for their safety and sought help from the National Human Rights Commission and the NCPO.