Earlier this week, a video clip was circulated heavily on social media showing a middle-aged woman going to town on a white pickup truck with a hatchet. As it turns out, the truck was parked -- handbrakes and all -- in front of her home, blocking the one point of entry and exit she had, while the owner shopped at one of the many markets surrounding her home. Comments on social media initially criticised the woman for what seemed like extreme overreaction.
Public opinion quickly turned the other way, however, when the woman -- Boonsri Saengyoktrakarn, 65 -- revealed her side of the story, detailing the decade-long legal battle she has been forced to endure courtesy of the fresh markets surrounding her home. Unruly parking aside, Boonsri says she and her family have been forced to deal with a plethora of problems, from noise and smell pollution, to breaking and entering, to threats to their safety. This is despite conclusive rulings under various courts -- printed on huge signs hung in front of Boonsri's home -- saying the markets are breaking the law, and that Boonsri deserves protection.
When asked about what he would do if he were in Boonsri's position, the Prawet district chief said he would've either sold the house -- or, even better, opened a competing market himself -- despite the area being legally marked as a residential area, or the fact that the markets in question are operating illegally. The chief even admitted as much himself in a televised interview, but when asked why they were still allowed to operate, the only answer he could give was that the district office has been regularly fining the markets for their infringement. Small comfort for the woman who has had snakes released in her home by malicious strangers.
Now, considering that there is a printed acrylic sign in front of her house, you'd think Boonsri would've had an easy time getting the attention of appropriate authorities. You'd think that, with as unequivocal a declaration as a judge's ruling, she wouldn't have had to resort to taking an axe to a stranger's motor-vehicle to get the right people on her case. But that's apparently not the Thailand we're living in.
Instead, we live in a Thailand where people who are wronged -- people like Boonsri and so many before her -- can only hope to get the justice they are owed through putting themselves at personal risk. Boonsri braved public scorn and retaliation from whatever power has allowed the market to operate for so long -- and you can bet your bottom baht that there's a power behind this -- to bring a 10-year injustice to the public spotlight.
We can always point fingers at the popular victims, young people like student activists Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, Rangsimun Rome, Sirawith "Ja New" Seritiwat and even Jatupat "Pai" Boonpattararaksa, who have put themselves in the crosshairs again and again, suffering the consequences over and over. But some people may feel those are controversial figures. What about the 33 protesters who went on a hunger strike against the government's insistence on building two coal-fired power plants in Krabi and Songkhla?
After a week of starvation, in clear view of the United Nations building, the people's voices were finally heard.
The government ordered a delay of the plans, as well as a new Environment and Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) study, allowing researchers from both sides to conduct a fair and public judgement. It really shouldn't take more than two dozen people starving themselves half to death for a fair hearing.
Or what about Wichien Chinnawong, the forest ranger in charge of Thungyai Nareasuan wildlife sanctuary's western side, who brought light to the case against Premchai Karnasuta, CEO of construction giant Italian-Thai? He is currently accused of, among other things, illegally hunting preserved animals. People were immediately concerned for Wichien's safety, especially as he will be going up against the wealth and influence of Premchai. The debacle also raised the issue of underfunding currently plaguing the agencies in charge of patrolling the national parks, sporting outdated weapons and self-bought ammunition. Does it really require public outrage for the government to give these people the tools to do their jobs effectively and safely?
This isn't even to mention the long, long list of academics, activists, journalists, regular citizens and even students who have put themselves at personal peril in order to be heard. In the age of social media, we have the platform required for these otherwise overlooked martyrs to make their messages heard. It's our responsibility not only to listen, but to make sure not a single voice is forgotten.
Kanin Srimaneekulroj is a feature writer of the Life section of the Bangkok Post.