Last month, EarthRights School students from all over the Mekong region went on a field trip to learn about Special Economic Zones (SEZ). They visited various areas impacted by often rapid and irresponsible development in Thailand, including Map Ta Phut, the site of Thailand’s largest industrial park. According to the World Resources Institute, Map Ta Phut is “…one of Thailand’s most toxic hot spots with a history of air and water pollution, industrial accidents, illegal hazardous waste dumping, and pollution-related health impacts, including cancer and birth deformities. ”
ERS students met with many local defenders and campaign leaders challenging the harmful development projects in their communities.
Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate is a large industrial park in Thailand and one of the most toxic hot spots in the region, with a history of air and water pollution. While ERS students met with Map Ta Phut’s community leaders, it started raining. “Acid rain,” the community leader said.
Lamnuthor Dungdanwiman, a Thai ERS student, thanked the elders for their wisdom and passion. We sadly learned that they are the last generation who are passionately monitoring the impact of the Map Ta Phut industrial Zone, and that younger generations are not as interested in protecting their communities from the industrial zone’s harms.
Somnuek Jongmeewasin, an environmental researcher, presented on the impact of the Ao Udom Port, the SEZ, Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) (the eastern seaboard of Thailand which is a key developing economic region) and the history of Laem Chabang Deep Sea Port.
“We don’t need another conflict to fight the conflicts. We should use smart strategies to get win-win situations between corporations and communities,” Somnuek Jongmeewasin said.
In Mae Sot, a local community leader shared the SEZ’s impact on her community.
"Our community's lifestyle was very simple and easy…The forest has been our seasonal supermarket for generations. Today, a lot of situations are changing, our life can’t be as simple as before,” one community leader said.
ERS students discussed with Suwichan Phatthanaphraiwan, an indigenous Karen Pakayaw lecturer at Bodhivijjalaya College Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok, about the SEZ projects' impacts on different communities in Southeast Asia.
Our community's lifestyle was very simple and easy…The forest has been our seasonal supermarket for generations. Today, a lot of situations are changing, our life can’t be as simple as before,” one community leader said.
In Ban Huai Nam Hak, communities are promoting their culture and wisdom to develop ecotourism. Now, the community is facing forest and land rights violations because of a government sponsored national park project.
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