Protests over National Park Bill

Protests over National Park Bill
By Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

New legislation is meant to tackle land encroachment but affects communities

BANGKOK: -- THE NEW National Park Bill will not solve the problems facing people living in the forest, land-rights campaigners have claimed.

The bill was approved by the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) last Monday, prompting protests from environmentalists and land-rights activists who fear the new law may be used to legitimise large-scale forest encroachment by commercial enterprises and limit communal rights.

Some critics singled out the bill’s Article 52 as being particularly contentious. This will limit people who meet certain criteria to use forestland to no more than 20 rai (3.2 hectares) per family for no less than five years but not beyond 20 years.

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