Page 20 - รายงานการปฏิบัติตามกติการะหว่างประเทศว่าด้วยสิทธิทางเศรษฐกิจ สังคม และวัฒนธรรม

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who form a community have the right to take part in the management,

conservation and exploitation of natural resources and the environment.

They have the right to express their views and opinions on the

implementation of a project or activity that might seriously impact

on the environment and natural resources in the locality or on the

health of people living in the community so that the people can

live in a healthy environment and enjoy a good quality of life. The

Constitution also guaranteed the right of the people to file a lawsuit

against a public agency if it did not comply with these provisions.

3. Despite the centrality of people in the development process

spelled out in the national development plan and the constitutional

guarantee of the rights of the people to take part in the management

of natural resources and the environment that might affect their

community, Thailand is faced with increasingly serious problems

arising from an imbalanced and inequitable development that have

impinged on various rights recognized in the International Covenant

on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The high priority

given to economic growth and industrial development, especially

investment in natural resources-based industries, has cast negative

impacts on the way of life of the people who rely on local resources for

their living. Many industries have caused environmental problems

that affect the fundamental rights of the people, including the right

to an adequate standard of living and the right to the enjoyment of

highest attainable standard of health as stipulated in Articles 11 and