Environmental conflict in Thailand: Planned dam threatens Karen people's homes and culture

Planned dam in Ratchaburi sparks protests from Karen people

Ratchaburi, Thailand – A new dam is planned to be built in Pa Chee, Ratchaburi , but the project has met with strong opposition from the Karen people living in the area, who fear that the construction will force them to move again, another in a series of forced displacements that their community has suffered.

The planned dam, the “Nong Ta Dang Dam” , is part of a government initiative to improve irrigation and water supply in the region. Authorities say the project is necessary for agriculture and water supply, but local people see it as a threat to their way of life and land rights.

The struggle of the Karen people for their land

The Karen people in the area already have a history of forced displacement. In the past, many families have been forced to leave their homes in Kaeng Krachan-the forest, part of UNESCO's World Heritage Site, to make way for nature conservation areas and development projects.

Now they face the same threat again. Many believe that they have already adapted their lifestyle to living sustainably in the forest and that a further move would destroy their traditional lifestyle and connection to nature.

“We have already been told once that we have to leave our land and start over. Now they want to do it again. But this is where we belong,” says an older member of the community.

Environmental effects and the government's arguments

Environmental groups and activists say the dam would flood over 3,000 hectares of forest , damaging the local ecosystem and threatening wildlife. Studies show that Karen communities often have sustainable agricultural practices that contribute to forest conservation, rather than harming it.

However, the Thai government maintains that the dam is important for water supply, irrigation and economic development in the region. According to the authorities, the area where the dam is to be built is state-owned land, but the Karen community says they have lived there for generations.

Right now, the project is in an evaluation phase, but activists warn that if approved, it could lead to mass protests and further legal battles over the rights of indigenous peoples in Thailand.

The Karen people

The Karen people are one of Thailand's largest ethnic minorities and live mainly in the border areas between Thailand and Myanmar.

The number of Karen in Thailand is estimated at around one million , but many more live across the border in Myanmar. They speak various Karen dialects and some also Thai.

The religion of the Karen people varies between Buddhism, animism, and Christianity , and their traditional lifestyle is based on sustainable agriculture, livestock raising, and handicrafts.

In modern times, many Karen communities have suffered land conflicts and forced displacement as forest and mountain areas became national parks or converted for other development projects.

Text: Editorial team

Image license: Julius Silver, Pixabay , Original image