Book launch of “Jai Pandin: The Heart of the Ancestral Land for the Karen Community in Kaeng Krachan”

Book launch of “Jai Pandin: The Heart of the Ancestral Land for the Karen Community in Kaeng Krachan” and panel discussion on the situation concerning indigenous Karen communities and potential registration of Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex as a UNESCO World heritage site 3 July 2019, 1:00 -5:00 pm, Venue: Room 317, Floor 4th, Visid Prachuabmoh Building, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University.

Background

In 2011, Kaeng Krachan National Park officials burned down houses, barns, and farms belonging to indigenous Karen communities in the Bang Kloy – Jai Pan Din area, thereby forcing the community members to move off their ancestral lands. Historically, this indigenous community had been established long before the declaration of the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (KKFC) as a national park.

The state-sanctioned project of forced eviction has significant negative impacts on the Karen community, not only undermining their traditional way of life but also worsening their economic conditions. As some of the community members attempted to move back to their ancestral lands, they often face charges of trespassing in national park. Therefore, many of them had to flee state persecution and decided to migrate to urban areas for employment opportunities. The enforced disappearance of Pholachi “Billy” Rakchongcharoen, a prominent human rights defender in the community, has remained unresolved for five years. The state’s actions- both on the level of policy-making and operations- constitutes a serious violation of human rights and indigenous rights.

Their negligence and incapacity to address these human rights abuses results in the gradual loss of identity and traditional way of life that this Karen community has been practicing for several generations. In 2019, The Thai government nominated Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex for a World Heritage registration to UNESCO World Heritage Committee without having prior consulted with the indigenous Karen communities whose lives would be impacted had the Committee approved the nomination. Such lack of community participation reflects the Thai government’s failure to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights of indigenous people as it has pledged with the United Nations in its ratification of many relevant international conventions.

Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF), a human rights organization recognized by National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, has been working to promote and protect human rights, especially for those of marginalized people including indigenous communities. CrCF believes that it is imperative that the Thai government bears in mind its obligations to protect the rights of Karen communities residing in Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, especially the one in the Bang Kloy- Jai Pandin area. Therefore, CrCF decides to gather data related to human rights abuses facing this community and compile them into the book Jai Pandin: The Heart of the Ancestral Land for the Karen Community in Kaeng Krachan. This book aims to raise public awareness about the ongoing struggles of this Karen community and urge relevant state authorities to realize their duties to address these problems.

Together with Chulalongkorn University’s Social Research Institute, Cross Cultural Foundation will co-host the launch of the book Jai Pandin: The Heart of the Ancestral Land for the Karen Community in Kaeng Krachan on 3 July 2019 from 1 to 5 pm at Room 317, Floor 4th, Visid Prachuabmoh Building, Chulalongkorn University. Following the book launch, there will be a panel discussion on the potential impacts that the registration of KKFC as a UNESCO World Heritage could have on the indigenous Karen community in Bang Kloy – Jai Pandin.

Objectives

1. To launch the book ai Pandin: The Heart of the Ancestral Land for the Karen Community in Kaeng Krachan
2. To exchange views on the ongoing challenges facing the Karen communities in KKFC and gather recommendations for relevant organizations that are responsible for the decision to declare the Kaeng Krachan National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Participants (30-40)

1. Academics
2. Representative from the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
3. Representative from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
4. Representative from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
5. Representative from the United Nations
6. Book author
7. Media and Reporter
8. General Public

Organizers Cross Cultural Foundation and Social Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University

Tentative Agenda
3 July 2019, 13:00 am-17:00 pm,

Venue: Room 317, Floor 4th, Visid Prachuabmoh Building, Chulalongkorn University Launch of the book Jai Pandin: The Heart of the Ancestral Land for the Karen Community in Kaeng Krachan

Moderator: Somsri Hananuntasuk, Vice President of Cross-Cultural Foundation
12:30 – 13:00 pm Registration
13:00 – 13:15 pm Musical performance by indigenous Karen community members

13.15 – 13.30 pm Opening speech by Surapong Kongchantuk, President of Cross

Cultural Foundation and Director of Chulalongkorn University’s Social Research Institute

13:30-13:40pm “Voices from Jai Pandin Community”and Pinnapa “Minor”Pruksapan
13.40 – 14.00pm Presentation of the book by the author
14.00 – 15.20pm Recommendation from academic and community member

1. Wut Boonlert, Consultant of Karen Network for Culture and Environment Tanaosri Region
2. Dr. Narumon Arunothai, Chulalongkorn University
3. Dr. Malee Sitthikriangkrai, Chiangmai University
4. Dr.Permosak Makarapirom, Mahidol University

Panel discussion on the situation concerning indigenous Karen communities and potential registration of Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex as a UNESCO World

heritage site Moderator: Somchai Homlaor, consultant at Cross Cultural Foundation

15.20 – 16.40 pm Situation and progress about the nomination of Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex World Heritage by academic, community
member, government agency, and non-governmental

organization

1. Wut Boonlert, consultant at Karen Network for Culture and Environment Tanaosri region
2. Representative from the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
3. Representative from the United Nations
4. Representative from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
5. Representative from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
6. Sunee Chairos, Rangsit University

16.40 – 17.00 pm. Q/A session and closing remarks by Somchai Homlaor Remark: the agenda is subject to change without prior notice[:]