Obituary: Nanthachote Chaiyarat

[marshbags]

Obituary: Nanthachote Chaiyarat, a hero for grass-roots causes

By Kamol Sukin

The Nation,Published on May 9, 2008

His name is not commonly known to most, but to villagers in many northeastern provinces suffering from major development projects,

Nanthachote Chaiyarat was a local hero, the wind beneath the wings of movements in which locals fought for their rights in natural resource management and environmental protection. The 15 years he spent fighting, for nearly half his 38-year life, are worth remembering as a significant chapter in the history of Thai grass-roots movements. The activity that arose from the Pak Mun Dam project is commonly recognised as one of the major grass-roots movements in Thai history. Nanthachote was one of the activists who stood side by side with thousands of villagers in Ubon Ratchathani who were affected by the dam project.

Among Thai activists, he was considered an "adviser" to the Assembly of the Poor. Local villagers, however, showed their respect for Nanthachote by calling him "ajarn" (teacher).

Nanthachote's face can be found in photographs taken at every major event in the history of the Pak Mun movement, including one historic Pak Mun rally held in front of Government House, which authorities dispersed by unleashing dogs.

"He was not a leader type, but he would never leave villagers fighting by themselves as he realised well villagers alonecould not negotiate with government officials or developers equally. He did not lead villagers but stood beside them and was available to give advice when they needed to ask," one activist said.

Despite his high profile among the poor, Nanthachote's life was very simple. He graduated in law from Ramkhamhaeng University, was 38 and the father of three kids. He came from a middle-class family in Nakhon Sawan.

His wife was also a former activist and is now a teacher in Ubon Ratchathani. Even the names he gave his three boys reflect his commitment to the environment - Lamdon, Lamnan and Lammool, which refer to tributaries of the Mekong.

The life of an activist might sound intriguing, but it is certainly a tough one in reality, especially so financially. But Nanthachote decided to go down the tougher route and follow his heart.

"I first met him when he was a student. He joined his friend and set up an activist group called Khob Fai [torch] group. We helped workers fighting for their basic rights at one auto-parts factory called 'Tra Ud'," Jaded Chaowilai, a labour lawyer and activist, said.

His ideology stemmed back to his university days when he joined a sea turtle conservation group in Phuket.

He joined the Assembly of the Poor in 1992. The more he learned about the problems of the poor, particularly those in the Northeast, the deeper his commitment to the movement strengthened.

Apart from the decades-long Pak Mun case, he has also become involved in other issues involving lands, forests and rivers, especially those related to the Kong-Chi-Mool irrigation project. He supported local villagers in their fight to have a voice in the controversial project and called for sustainable development.

Last Tuesday, on his way to consult villagers impacted by Sirindhorn Dam about their development loans, a car accident on a rainy night took away his life, together with that of his second son Lamman.

"It is a second loss to us, the poor and the grass-roots movement in Thailand, after the death of another leader and adviser Wanida Tantiwittayapitak months ago," said a Pak Mun villager.

Unquote.

The Nation

There are so many good Thai,s who work repeatedly day in and day out for the rights of not Thailands underpriviledged, but for the future benefits of all it,s citizens.

When i read about yet another selfless individual who,s life has been brought to a premature and tragic end, constantly reading about the selfish, corrupt officials that represent todays government and wonder yet again..

WHY ???? do they always seem to take the unselfish and leave their families and loved ones to suffer. !!!!!

Why ????? do the likes of Samak, The Chalerms ect. ect. continue to abuse and get away with all the evils they represent and are infamously renowned for. !!!!!!

May he and his son rest in peace and may his family somehow find comfort from their loved ones and much needed / deserved support from the genuine great and good of Thailand.

marshbags and at such injustices.

Edited May 9, 2008 by marshbags

[geriatrickid]

One sad story. Interesting thing about this is that he was a lawyer and his wife a teacher. Two much maligned professions. I doubt he lived in august splendour like some other lawyers and I doubt his wife profited from running a "school". If the story is accurate, then he was a man of principle that probably passed up all sorts of financial incentives to shut up. A rarity in a place where money can rule. Hopefully he will have inspired some other young people to follow in his path.

It is unfortunate that we only learn of him now. Perhaps the next time someone laments how Thais don't care etc., they might wish to remember this gentleman and his widow.

[plachon]

Yes, sad news indeed and hope other's are inspired to follow his example to stand side by side with villagers in the fight for social and environmental justice. Contrast his life path with that of Noppadope, Thaksin's lawyer.

[marshbags]

Bangkok Post 09-05-2008

COMMENTARY

A sad loss in this fight for the poor

VASANA CHINVARAKORN

They both died quietly, and one rather unexpectedly. The recent deaths of the two men would probably have gone unreported in most mainstream media. To the public, Nantachote Chairat and Pichet Butpala were likely to be considered nonentities. But for the grassroots movement in Thailand, they played a pivotal role in supporting the ongoing efforts of the underprivileged nationwide in demanding social justice - each in his dogged and selfless manner.

Nantachote was an adviser of the Assembly of the Poor, a dedicated social activist who spent years living and working with the rural folk without seeking personal gain. In the words of a friend: "Brother Pui [Nanthachote's nickname] never turned his back on the people he worked for. Nor did he ever try to transform himself into an academic, a researcher, writer or artist, or exploit [his opportunity] to apply for scholarships to study overseas" like several of his peers may have done, she noted.

Pichet, known among his journalist friends as Ae Yak (Ae the Giant) for his substantial size, was a former staff member of Khao Sod newspaper. An active environmental reporter, he covered a wide range of issues - from the plight of the fisherfolk at Pak Moon Dam to the Karen villagers affected by the Klity lead mine and the protest against the Thai-Burmese gas pipeline project in Kanchanaburi. Pichet's years at Khao Sod paralleled the boom in environmental journalism in Thailand. Such was the golden age of Thai newsprint media before the present morph into a bunch of brick-sized papers full of slick, ever-shortened articles. For the motto of most papers nowadays is that one must be able to finish reading everything in one loo-sitting, isn't it?

Unquote.

Ref url for this additional tribute :- http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/09May2008_news24.php

Thanks to both the Nation and the Bangkok Post for posting these deserving tributes to them, not forgetting others who suffered similar fates while dedicating their lives to just causes for the benefit of ALL Thailands citizens, irrespective of status.