Another similarity between policies of the NPKC and NCPO is that they both benefit big
companies. In the former case, evacuated areas were prepared for large-scale commercial
plantations of eucalyptus. In the latter case, there is evidence indicating NCPO assistance to
large-scale business groups that have projects in various areas. For example, villagers in Khon
Kaen province’s Ban Namun have long opposed the petroleum-drilling survey undertaken by