Mung Poy Village Affected by the Land Reclaim Policy of the Thai government

Mung Poy Village Affected by the Land Reclaim Policy of the Thai government

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Mung Poy Village Affected by the Land Reclaim Policy of the Thai government

A. General Information

         

Munag Poy is a satellite village of Phapoondong[1]. It is located at Moo 16, Omkoi sub-district, Omkoi district, Chiang Mai. Mung Poy is a Karen village. It is situated in the National Forest Reserve which was declared on 24 December 1975[2] and watershed area class 1 and 2. Karen people have lived in this area (Phapoon mountain range) for many generations. Villagers used to practice rotational farming and stopped around 25 years ago. This is due to the government sedentary and conservation policy. Today, most villagers have shifted to do permanent farming and grow some cash crops such as tomatoes and pumpkins

[1] Phapoondong village is made up of 4 hamlets. These include Phapoondong, Mung Poy, Denkratai and Doi Mee.

[2] Area covers 3 sub-districts, namely Omkoi, Maetuen and Yangpiang in Omkoi district, Chiang Mai province.

         

B. key challenges faced by the community

Land grabbing

On 12 June 2016, community farmland totaling 250 rai (approx. 39 ha.) were confiscated by the National Forest Reserve Officers (Forest Protection Unit CM 30: Pang Ong Mong) for reforestation. Such operation, according to the forestry officers, was carried out in accordance with the land reclaim policy of the NCPO Order no. 64/2557. Villagers said that such action was done without any free, prior and informed consent of the community members. This has impacted to 20 Karen families as follows:

Note: the total area from individual family survey is slightly from information received from the government agency

Impacts to community

  • 20 Families have lost their farmlands which they used to grow rice and some cash crops to support their families.
  • Some families who have no land for farming, they have to work as wage labor.

Ban Phaboondeang (Mung Poy) community mapping,
Moo 16, T.Omkoi, A.Omkoi, Chiang Mai

Efforts to resolve the problem and its results

  • Village leaders entrusted Chairperson of Omkoi Ethnic Network submitting a petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on 23 August 2018 to investigate and find possible solution to resolve the problem. NHRC then conducted investigation and on-site visit to affected community. Its report on 11 December 2019 concluded that the action of the Forest Resource Management Office 1 (Chiang Mai) was undertaken in accordance with the existing laws and regulations. It was therefore not considered violating the rights or human rights of Karen people and proposed to terminate the case. NHRC however acknowledged that implementation of policy and law enforcement on land and resource management in Omkoi district has posed negative impact to Mung Poy community particularly on their farmlands. NHRC therefore has made recommendations to Director General of the Royal Forestry Department, Chiang Mai governor and Director of the Forest Resource Management Office 1 to collaborate with the relevant agencies as follows:
    • Cooperation with Omkoi Local Administration to revive national forest reserve and resolve land problem in the area. These include conduct community land use mapping in consultation with community.
    • Cooperation with the Agricultural District Office and Community Organization Development Institution (CODI) on conducting community land use planning and promoting appropriate agriculture and occupation for community. This is for example in form of community enterprise which is environmentally sounds and enhancing food security for the community.
  • Village leaders submitted the case to Chiang Mai governor on 22 August 2018 demanding:
    • Return confiscated lands to villagers for sustaining their livelihoods
    • Documenting land use practices of the whole district area and establishing a committee to concretely resolve the problem at local level.
    • Effectively involve villagers, and use transparent and non-discriminatory process on issues relating to land reclaim and reforestation in community area
    • Operation of land reclaim policy must not in conflicting with the NCPO Order no. 66/2557 which states that such action should not cause any negative impacts to the poor, less income and landless people who have resided there before, except those who have recently encroached the forest area.

Signpost: stating “Reforestation Plot 2018 total area 250 Rai” at Mung Poy village Moo 16, Omkoi Sub-district, Omkoi district, Chiang Mai province

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