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“My father was the first corpse. If I don’t rise up and fight,
there will be another one. As a descendent of this community,
I had to demand justice for the community even though I also
had to fight my own fear of different influences. If I didn’t
do it, the villagers would be bullied even more.”

Khatima Lija

A woman human rights defender for the rights to
adequate housing and sustainable livelihood.

Khatima was born in San Pa Hiang community, Chiang Dao
District, Chiang Mai Province. The inhabitants of this community com-
prise of lowland Thais and Lisu people. The Thais raise livestocks such
as cows and buffalo, while the Lisu plant rice, corn and vegetables.

The relationship between these two ethnic groups has not been that
peaceful. Conflicts often arose due to “ethnic prejudice”.
“The lack of Thai identity cards is like a license, which allows

anyone to bully us more easily.” Khatima Lija, a Lisu who fights for the
right to land expressed her life experience.
Often, the Thais would let their cattle into the agricultural crops

of the Lisu. When the victims took the matter to the cattle owners,
the Lisu were sent away to ask for compensation from the police and
were threatened with arrest because they did not have the identity

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