Society opposes Communal Forest bill
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The People's Movement for a Just Society has protested against the proposed Communal Forest bill, saying it would render forest communities impotent by handing the government compete control of forest management and result in the communities being disman
PMove protesters, led by Northern Region Farmer Union president Direk Khongnguen, gathered outside Government House yesterday.
The bill is being considered in the second reading by the National Reform Council.
Direk said the bill would let the state have an iron grip on forest management by allowing only relevant agencies to handle management.
“This is a violation of communal rights, which has been protected under the 1997 Constitution up until the current interim constitution, and it will separate the people from the forest, as the bill sees the people in the forest as encroachers and not caretakers,” he said.
“Therefore, we demand the NRC abort the consideration and take the bill out immediately.”
The bill was presented the NRC’s land and forest subcommittee under the committee on natural resources and environment reform.
