'Aggressive' forest policy spurs fears

A NON-GOVERNMENT group has raised concern about the military government’s “aggressive” policy to reclaim forest areas.
In Chaiyaphum province alone, about 200 families have already been affected, according to the People’s Movement for Just Society (P-Move).
“Many of these locals have in fact lived in the zones even before they were declared a forest reserve,” Kridsakorn Silarak of P-Move said yesterday.
He believed Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dapong Rattanasuwan and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) should review this policy.
Kridsakorn spoke up after officials based in Chaiyaphum cited the NCPO’s 64th announcement on forest protection that requires locals living in Khok Yao area and those living in Bo Kaeo area of Khon San district to leave within 15 days.
In Kaset Somboon district also, officials showed up and tried to evict locals at Ban Thung Sum Siao.
Enforcement of the evictions has not started yet because locals, supported by NGOs, have petitioned the National Human Rights Commission and other authorities, which caused the NCPO to suspend such moves.
“The relation between humans and forests is complex. So, any problem is too complicated to be solved by eviction,” Kridsakorn said.
He said he needed to speak up now because he had found out that announcements had gone up in many spots across the country, showing how much forest area the authorities want to reclaim.
Meanwhile, the Southern Farmers Confederation yesterday blamed influential figures for a serious conflict over 900-rai land plots in Surat Thani’s Chai Buri district.
Confederation coordinator Jiranet Jaisuwan said these areas were earmarked for agricultural reform, which some certified locals were entitled to use but ended up being sold or occupied by influential figures.
The conflict between locals and influential figures has sunk to the point that soldiers and police have had to intervene.
The plots prove appealing to exploiters partly because they include palm plantations, which were started by a concessionaire.
After the concession expired, some 70 local villagers have laid their hands on these plots because they are registered participants in an agricultural-reform scheme there.
Influential figures, however, have also stepped in and threatened the local villagers.
Yesterday, Surat Thani Governor Chatpong Chatraphuti convened a meeting with relevant authorities to try to solve the conflict.
It was agreed at the meeting that a panel be set up and tasked with the mission of finding a solution within 15 days.
During the period, police and soldiers will be deployed in the disputed area so as to prevent any eruption of violence.