Forest sector liberalisation plan for AEC postponed
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Five-year delay follows warnings of disputes, inequality
THE controversial plans to liberalise forestry-sector investment and to allow foreign investors – other than those from Asean countries – to be given the same investment rights as Asean nationals have been postponed by another five years.
There is widespread concern that forest liberalisation would cause more disputes and inequality in relation to land and natural resources.
After a meeting yesterday at Government House of a committee of the body overseeing Thailand’s preparedness for the full implementation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC), Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula said it was agreed to postpone the two contentious proposals under the Asean Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA) scheme.
The second proposal involves excluding foreign-owned Asean-based interests from investing in Thailand. “These proposals had been delayed several times in the past. This time we needed to have a good excuse to postpone the proposals again,” he said.
“We have acknowledged concerns that people will be affected by liberalisation and the committee thus decided to delay the proposals for another five years.”
Pridiyathorn added that the proposals could not be withdrawn as Thailand was part of the ACIA.
Before the meeting, Natural Resources and Environment Minis-ter General Dapong Rattanasuwan warned Pridiyathorn that the plan to allow foreign investment should be halted, liberalisation’s pros and cons studied and opinions considered.
National Farmers Council director Prapat Panyachatrat warned that if the government allowed foreigners to invest in logging enterprises, it would lead to greater conflict and inequality over land and resources.
Many people, especially farmers, would directly suffer from liberalisation, he said.
Biothai Foundation director Witoon Lianchamroon said he was relieved the proposals were postponed, but remained concerned they could eventually be adopted.
“There is no representative on the committee for the people who would be directly affected by the liberalisation,” Witoon said.
“The committee’s decision-making process is also not transparent and has no public involvement. Therefore, I am concerned that the committee may approve the proposals secretly in the future.”
The proposals were first postponed for 10 years in 2000.
