For Thailand’s female land rights defenders, activism is a dangerous and daunting necessity

[webfact]

For Thailand’s female land rights defenders, activism is a dangerous and daunting necessity

Lam Le

 

Thai land rights activist Waewrin Buangern, or Jo, working in the fields in Ban Haeng village. Photo: Lam Le

 

-- The country’s 2014 forest reclamation policy was meant to target businesses, but smaller farmers have been disproportionately threatened with eviction

 

-- As more women join the fight, rights groups say more than 200 women have been subjected to judicial harassment, while two have been murdered

 

Growing up, cassava farmer Nittaya Muangklang did not think she would ever become an activist – let alone that she would lead a group of land rights defenders in the first-ever bid to challenge Thailand’s government  and its “take back the forests” policy at the Supreme Court.

 

“We did encroach on the national park, but as poor farmers, we should be eligible for exemption,” said Muangklang, who is fighting eviction, imprisonment and fines.

 

Faced with what farmers and rights groups perceive as increasing judicial harassment, more women living in rural areas have joined the fight  for land rights in Thailand – amid the spectre of intimidation and the threat of jail time or even being killed for their activism. The appeal court last year sentenced Muangklang and 13 other land rights defenders from Ban Sap Wai village in Thailand ’s northeast to up to four years in prison, and ordered them to pay fines of between 40,000 and 1.6 million baht (between US$1,300 and US$52,000) for encroaching on and damaging land in Sai Thong National Park.

 

Full story: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3048456/thailands-female-land-rights-defenders-activism

 

-- SCMP 2020-02-03

 

[Puchaiyank]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

amid the spectre of intimidation and the threat of jail time or even being killed for their activism.

How can this be?  Must be written by some disgruntled expat who had a bad immigration experience...☺

[nobodysfriend]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Faced with what farmers and rights groups perceive as increasing judicial harassment, more women living in rural areas have joined the fight  for land rights in Thailand – amid the spectre of intimidation and the threat of jail time or even being killed for their activism.

Political activists are definitely not liked by the ruling elite ( and their almighty superiority ) , as it might threaten their position , and income .

 

Remember " Billy " ... RIP

 

Edited February 3, 2020 by nobodysfriend

[justin case]

small farmers should be exempted , same what the big ELITE says when they steal the seize of a city 

[seajae]

so they knowingly encroach on the land then want to be exempted for any action against them, does this now mean poor people can steal from shops etc then not have to face any charges because they are poor too or because they are female. Its this kind of thinking that holds the country back, everyone no matter who they are, rich or poor should be charged for encroaching on land and treated exactly the same, being poor or female is no excuse, you steal you get charged but you also need a govt that will treat everyone the same and enforce the law equally

[Susco]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The appeal court last year sentenced Muangklang and 13 other land rights defenders from Ban Sap Wai village in Thailand ’s northeast to up to four years in prison, and ordered them to pay fines of between 40,000 and 1.6 million baht (between US$1,300 and US$52,000) for encroaching on and damaging land in Sai Thong National Park.

 

To me there is a difference between poor farmers encroaching to harvest some food to feed poor people, and a rich politician building a chicken farm on more than 700 Rai.

 

The land in question comprises two plots in the Khao Son 2 area, one spanning 31 rai and the other 15 rai. The two tracts are determined to have encroached on national forestland.

The Ratchaburi MP was also found to own a 691-rai plot in the Khao Son 1 area reserved for poor farmers under the land reform policy.

Ms Pareena operates chicken farms in both the Khao Son 1 and 2 areas, located in tambon Rang Bua, Chom Bueng district.

 

Can someone remind me how many years prison Miss Pareena was jailed for?

[mfd101]

2 hours ago, Susco said:

To me there is a difference between poor farmers encroaching to harvest some food to feed poor people, and a rich politician building a chicken farm on more than 700 Rai.

Either way the forests disappear!

[ClaySmc]

41 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Either way the forests disappear!

Yes. One way the forest disappears in the bowels of a corrupt class, the other dirt poor famers can through their own labor grow food to feed their families. Who would you prefer makes use of the land.

[billd766]

6 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

How can this be?  Must be written by some disgruntled expat who had a bad immigration experience...☺

A typical lazy response from you.

 

Did you even bother to read the  link with the story?

 

 

3 hours ago, seajae said:

 

deleted post