Forest eviction plan to steal from the poor Posted by Sanitsuda Ekachai ............................................................................................................................ Ulterior political motives aside, the Khao Yai Thiang controversy highlights how draconian central land control, legal impotency and endemic corruption are causing systematic land theft from the poor. But it is a pipedream to hope that the government will use the controversy to clean up the system. After all, General Surayud Chulanont is just one of the countless powerful figures and investors who have encroached on the commons to build resort businesses and holiday homes. And who dares stir up the hornet's nest? Yet, without any sense of guilt, the forest authorities are using the Khao Yai Thiang controversy to step up their crackdown on the poor who live in the grey forest zones. This is not a farce. This is exactly what the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has up its sleeve. The ministry's permanent secretary, Saksith Tridech, said recently there are over 450,000 people illegally occupying 5 million rai of forest land. To counter them, the ministry will combine forces with the military and police to immediately crack down on the 190 critical areas across the country. The evictions will start without waiting for any pending court decisions because it would otherwise be too late to rehabilitate the degraded areas, Mr Saksith said. Interestingly, among the ministry's first urgent targets are the communities which have been fiercely fighting to reclaim land rights and to oppose the environmentally destructive state projects. For example, the Kaeng Krung community which opposes the construction of Kaeng Krung dam in Surat Thani. And the Konsarn villagers in Chaiyaphum who are defiantly fighting against state-sponsored eucalyptus tree farms. Obviously, the forest authorities see this is as a chance to get rid of the thorns in their side _ and to enjoy a huge budget at the same time. How huge? According to Mr Saksith, the first eight months of the nationwide eviction will need 1,200 to 1,500 million baht. And he needs a lot more to carry out the five-year crackdown plan. Nationwide civil uprising is on the horizon if the cabinet approves this daylight robbery. As taxpayers, why are we continuing to allow these bureaucrats and politicians to ruin our forests and steal from the poor? One of the main reasons is because we have long been brainwashed into believing that the forests must be free from human habitation and conservation is best done through central control. This belief is rooted in our ignorance about the way of life of the rural folk and lack of respect for their ability to manage their pool resources sustainably. Following state central control in the past century, the rural communities have suffered from logging concessions and the draconian zoning of national forests which has turned local inhabitants into illegal encroachers. Big dams, mining, massive tree farms and cash crop plantations _ all state policies _ further destroy the wilderness and the locals' sources of livelihood.Meanwhile, land speculation amid weak law enforcement and fierce corruption has put much scenic forest land in the hands of the rich. The injustice has given rise to nationwide resistance on the ground through the community forest and land reform movements. The Thai villagers are not alone. Across the globe, the plunder of natural resources from draconian state policies has given rise to similar grassroots movements to manage the commons themselves. From her extensive research in various parts of the world, the users-managed properties often work better than state control, concludes Prof Elinor Ostrom of Indiana University, USA. And the world is listening, having honoured her with this year's Nobel Prize in Economics. Thailand is abundant with success stories of users-managed forests, rivers, lands and coastal seas. Yet, we refuse to take note. If we support their movements, we can help them save the commons from breaking down. Or we can just allow the authorities to exploit nature to serve the rich and big business. The choice is ours... .............................................................................................................................

Last 2 week red-shirt are planning a rally against the government’s double standards on law enforcement in front of country home of privy councillor Surayud Chulanont on Khao Yai Thiang Hmmm, Do you believe ??General Surayud did not know he might be breaking the law buying property in a National Park. Allright then, he didn't know. How could you expect someone of his level to know. And how could you expect someone who is about to spend some big baht on a property, that it might be illegally located. Nobody would think to ask that. I understand.Besides, the Forestry Department gave him permission. I am sure thy scrutinized his credentials closely and made an impartial decision. I understand that. But recently, they threw a lowly seller in jail because he "encroached' on the National Park. He knew, that guy. He had intent. Besides, he never asked the forestry Department for permission... . No double standard here...Nope! ...All makes sense to me...Give me a discount i wanna buy land there also Jan^^

Yep it sucks, and the red shirts are right to protest. But what do they want? They want to help some even more corrupt thieves to take power and fill their pocketses with even more riches. FFS just throw out the lot of them!

Sinenat: you forgot to mention that General Surayud bought the land for $50,000 bahts when its market value was around $700,000 bahts.

Of course, he did not know he was breaking the Forestry Act and the National Forest Reserves Act when he bought the land inside Yaithiang Mountain (a forest reserve within the Korat province),

EVEN though he was the CHAIRMAN of the Khao Yai National Park Protection Foundation!!!

And of course, he did not know he was getting such a good deal (or was it a steal) at $50,000 bahts.

OMG, I wonder where I can buy a plot of pristine land (or just any land) for $50,000 bahts inside Thailand!!!

Do I have to be a General?!?

Ah, you gotta laugh at these things, otherwise you will go crazy thinking about it.

Cosmo : Thanks for mention me very smart and ur point very clear ....................^^

......i gotta laugh at these things now hehe

Great Journal Nong Jan...

A very well written informative article.

A problem that exists not only in Thailand, but around the world.

I grew up on a Blackfoot Indian Reservation and the natives, and their resouces were treated abominably.

In America we have the great tradition of treating all non caucasians with deceit and fraud when it comes to their rights, their land, their resources, their freedom, and their dignity. Truly an ignoble history.