Social development

Ethnic minorities and indigenous people

Lao government, ethnic communities clash over development projects

New reports of Lao military operations against ethnic Hmong communities suggest the government is tightening its control over areas targeted for development and investment. According to a Radio Free Asia report on April 1, Lao military forces have repeatedly attacked Hmong living around Phou Bia mountain in Xaysomboun province, ...

Editorial

Thailand’s Indigenous Peoples fight for ‘land of our heart’ (commentary)

On Sept. 3, 2019, the remains of Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen, a Karen environmental and community rights defender who was disappeared in 2014, were found in an oil drum submerged under the Kaeng Krachan dam suspension bridge in Phetchaburi, Thailand. Billy was last seen by his community while ...

Pirawan Wongnithisathaporn, Thomas Worsdell

For some the nightmare has returned, but for ethnic people the nightmare never stopped

When the military seized power on February 1, arresting elected National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, the current nightmare started.   The people of Myanmar already know what life is like under a military regime: No ...

Esther Wah

PM: Government won't use force in Bang Kloi

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday said his administration won’t use force against ethnic Karen villagers living in Phetchaburi’s Kaeng Krachan National Park as past governments did. Instead, this government will take care of those living in Bang Kloi by ensuring they have proper jobs and ...

MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

Crackdown on "Encroachers" in Kaeng Krachan Forest Begins

Fresh evidence of apparent forest clearing and burning in the deep jungle of Kaeng Krachan National Park has been presented to the public to substantiate claims and the forest suppression operation by forest officials, while Karen supporter groups have condemned the latest suppression move and ...

B.Tribune

OPINION: Allow Myanmar ethnic groups to manage their own land

It is estimated that millions of people from cities across Myanmar are in the streets protesting against the military coup that took place on 1 February. The slogan ‘Free Aung San Suu Kyi’ has drawn out many of those demonstrating. But it is a different demand ...

Stella Naw

Ethnic Groups Demand Input in Myanmar Land Reforms

Development organizations and farming groups from ethnic minority areas have called on the government to postpone land reforms, saying they will crush indigenous people’s rights. After parliament resumes on Feb. 1, it is due to discuss a land law which has been planned since 2019 as ...

NAN LWIN

Ethnic Groups Demand Input in Myanmar Land Reforms

Development organizations and farming groups from ethnic minority areas have called on the government to postpone land reforms, saying they will crush indigenous people’s rights. After parliament resumes on Feb. 1, it is due to discuss a land law which has been planned since 2019 as ...

NAN LWIN

Indigenous peoples network to propose new bill to protect indigenous rights

The Network of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand (NIPT) is calling for voters to back their Council of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand bill, which proposes to set up a formal indigenous peoples’ council to give Thailand’s indigenous population the opportunity to resolve community rights issues in ...

Prachatai

Concern rises after Karen indigenous community returns to ancestral land

Concern continues to rise among civil society for the safety of members of the Bang Kloi Karen indigenous community who returned to their ancestral land at Chai Phaen Din in the Kaeng Krachan forest, after reports of a possible military operation to evacuate them from ...

Prachatai

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