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คณะกรรมการสิทธิมนุษยชนแห่งชาติ
National Human Rights Commission of Thailand 26

4. There were 3 human rights issues of concern in 2019:
Situation of
human rights i.e., community rights in natural resources and environmental

issues of concern management, the situation in the southernmost provinces, and
human trafficking.

As for the situation of community rights in 2019, amendments
were made to the laws on community forests, national parks, and
wildlife conservation and protection on the provisions that allow
people to participate in the conservation and to exploit natural
resources in the protected area. The NCPO Order No. 64/2557 on the
suppression and prevention of forest encroachment and destruction

of forest resources was revoked, but the legal procedures continue
with the people who were arrested under the Order. Some groups
of people have called on the government to solve forest and
land problems, and to seek measures to help prosecuted citizens.
Besides, there were also cases in which some groups of citizens
disagreed with the changes in city planning in the Eastern Special
Economic Corridor Development Project which did not involve public

participation. There are concerns that the promulgation of a new
factory law that allows small factories to be located in communities
may cause pollution to the communities in the neighbouring area.
There was also an objection to the construction of waste disposal
plants in many areas because people were afraid that the plants
would affect their health.

In this regard, the NHRC has presented recommendations to
the government: e.g., to require relevant agencies to have clear
guidelines for participation of citizens and local communities in
managing land and housing and in exploitation of natural resources;

to review lawsuits against citizens; and to provide housing and
suitable, arable land for people who had to leave their land and
do not have a place to live and land to make a living. At the same
time, the government should give priority to making clarification
to the public about the implementation of development projects
and environmental protection, particularly in matters of concern to
the public, and to have measures in place to take care of people
if affected, as well as measures to inspect the operation of factories
or other businesses that may affect the environment and public

health, and measures to solve problems and provide remedies for
affected people.