Karen need govt support

Karen need govt support

As a working group on the plight of Bang Kloi ethnic Karen villagers evicted from their ancestral land in Kaeng Krachan National Park prepares to start its mission, the Prayut Chan-o-cha government must ensure that all threats and intimidation by state authorities cease and a solution to this long-standing problem is found that is both just and fair.

A group of ethnic Karen decided earlier last month to leave the relocation site, called Bang Kloi Lang or Lower Bang Kloi to travel back to Jai Paen Din village from which they were evicted in 1996 as the state wanted to register the forest complex as a Unesco world heritage site. Many have complained that they did not receive farmland promised by the state, while those that did found their plots barren and unusable without lots of chemicals -- which goes against their principles of sustainable, enironmentally friendly farming practices.

Their previous attempt to return to the old village in 2011 resulted in a brutal eviction as the authorities, headed by then Kaeng Krachan Park chief Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn, torched their houses and barns to ashes. Their young leader, Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen became a victim of forced disappearance and was confirmed dead by the Department of Special Investigation.

The Karens' return on Jan 9 was met with a strong reaction from park officials who threatened to take legal action. After ethnic group networks associated with the People's Movement for a Just Society (P-Move) staged a demonstration along with a "Save BangKloi" campaign in Bangkok on Jan 21, the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry formed the working group, which also includes representatives from the Social Research Institute of Chulalongkorn University and the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre. Initially, the working group will inspect the relocation site and see how many Karen have missed out from the state's promises.

Previously, Varawut Silpa-archa, natural resources and the environment minister tried to trivialise the issue, saying only 40 families have not been allocated land. He seemed unconcerned that the problem has dragged on for far too long.

But on the ground, there are reports park officers -- several of whom are attached to the Phya Sua (tiger) task force associated with Mr Chaiwat -- have escalated pressure on the returnees. There are allegations that the officers set up checkpoints aimed at blocking donated food supplies from reaching the returnees. Such a tactic is reminiscent of the brutal 2011 operation.

Besides, some activists complained that Bang Sue police have charged them with breaching the emergency decree for taking part in the Jan 21 demonstration. Many say this is a show of double standards by the authorities dealing with this long-standing issue.

The Karen villagers yesterday said they wanted to petition Gen Prayut at Government House to hasten a solution to their plight. They want all forms of intimidation, including lawsuits against the activists, to stop immediately.

The prime minister assigned Deputy Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow, in his capacity as deputy chair of a joint panel between the government and P-Move tackling land conflicts, to meet with the demonstrators. He pledged to comply with the demands, and also to speed up finding a solution for the embattled ethnic people.

It would be good news if he kept that promise, and better still if he saw to it that the working group is able to ensure that some tough questions, particularly whether the 1996 eviction was lawful or not, are answered.

Editorial

Bangkok Post editorial column

These editorials represent Bangkok Post thoughts about current issues and situations.

Email : anchaleek@bangkokpost.co.th

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