Reforestation in NE-Thailand (Isan)

Suan Mali reforestation project

The conflicts in the area

Kaeng Hui San, 1998: The eviction
 

In 1998 the Royal Forestry Department started evicting migrating farmers, who had encroached on national forest land (pa anurak). Coming back from migration work in Bangkok the road to the village in the national park was blocked.		The farmers made a blockade outside the roadblock. Achan Piak, a local NGO leader (yellow shirt) was in charge and taught peaceful resistance and meditation. The demonstration lasted a week, but they were not allowed to return.
The men join the meditation		and the women made baskets

Ban Thaworn

1999-2000

In the years 1999-2000 the Royal Forestation Project founded a new village some 4 km west of Kaeng Nang.

In 2000 the first column to the school was raised according to ancient customs and rituals (called: jok saw ek).

The happy family picture: The farmers sitting in front and all the local bosses (chao nai) are standing in the back.

The local leaders of the police, border police and Forum of the Poor watch and lead the ceremony.

Ban Thaworn Village,  2001-2002

Not all are satisfied

     Ban Thaworn is a model-village under the King's Royal Reforestation Project in Hui Phai. It was built as a complete new village on a bare hilltop some 4 km west of Kaeng Nang village. Houses were constructed on 1 rai (1600 m2) of land and the farmers were given extra 8 (1.3 hectare) rai (1 rai = 40 x 40 m) for agricultural use. The new plots have irrigation so the relatively small plots can be utilized intensively. Growing tapioca on a plot of un-irrigated land on 40 rai is barely enough for a family's survival.
     The core-problem is land-rights: The project area was encroached on and inhabited by migrating farmers before the project started. These farmers were evicted or relocated with no compensation for their old and mostly larger spots. The rest of their land was given to other farmers, who were either evicted from nearby areas - or to farmers from other provinces, who had been evicted due to forest preservation strategies or construction of dams.

Ban Pa Ko Village, 2007 - ....

Eviction or flooding?

     Ban Pa Ko is located in the middle of the National Park some 15 km south of Ban Kaeng Nang. The access road to Ban Pa Ko was closed by the forestry department in 1998 (see above). The residing migrant farmers still stay and the village is an eyesore for the forestry department.
     In 2006 it was rumoured that the villagers would be relocated to the area between Suan Mali and Kaeng Nang. Each family would be given a plot of 15 rai with land title deeds as chor phor kor. Roads and electricity would be provided as well.
     With out compensation this plan will course conflict! The residents of Ban Pa Kor see no advantage in being resettled on much smaller plots of land. Nobody can exist on 15 rai of exhausted land with no irrigation. The farmers occupying the land south of Kaeng Nang are of course not willing to give, what they regard as theirs, away for free. The out-side farmers and local farmers, who just started growing rubber in the area fear economical ruin: Rubber demands investment.
     In 2007 two roads were constructed connection Kaeng Nang and Kaeng Tae, 1 km SE of Suan Mali, making Suan Mali accessible all year round. Electricity, the dam and land title deeds has not been implemented. Asking the locals the answer is bor hu, don't know. The is a serious lack of communisation between the state agencies and the local farmers.