Grassroots representatives have called on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to stop the "lopsided'' eviction of forest settlers and work out plans to help villagers affected by the order.
The call was made during a meeting with authorities in Bangkok last week to discuss the impact of the evictions which are being implemented under the NCPO's order No. 64.
Dozens of northern, northeastern, and southern community leaders and land rights activists met Forestry Department, the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Prime Minister's Office officials.
The meeting was chaired by Kamol Suksomboon, adviser to the permanent secretary of the Prime Minister's Office.
The grassroots representatives initially wanted to meet more senior officials such as Natural Resources and Environment minister Dapong Rattanasuwan or PM's Office permanent secretary M.L. Panadda Diskul to seek an immediate halt to the evictions.
However, they were satisfied with the outcome after the officials promised measures to ease the impact of the evictions, said Sawat Uppahad, coordinator of the Thai Landless-Village Network.
He said officials agreed to set up two task forces to review the forestry master plan and the NCPO's eviction order.
The meeting also agreed to consider a remedy for villagers, said Mr Sawat, whose network covers villagers in Sakhon Nakhon, Khon Kaen, Kalasin and Udon Thani.
Srisuwan Kuankachorn, chairman of the NGO Coordinating Committee, said the remedy committee would evaluate the impact of the evictions and consider measures to help villagers hit by eviction orders.
The meeting was called after grassroots leaders met Gen Dapong to air their grievances.
About 500 lawsuits have been filed against villagers from 1,764 households nationwide for illegal possession of logs and for encroaching on forest land.
Mr Srisuwan said those present at the meeting on Thursday would ask the government to scrap the evictions and review the forest master plan.