Over the past few weeks there have been some interesting developments in our casework for the Chao Lay in Phuket, Thailand. Here's the latest...
(1) The Thammasat Law Center, the legal aid arm of the Thammasat University Faculty of Law, has agreed to take on the case for the Chao Lay on Rawai Beach. This past Sunday night, three TLC employees braved the 12-hour overnight bus ride to Phuket to spend Monday meeting with the Chao Lay leaders and researching the case. Withing the next week we'll meet to discuss our ongoing strategy.
(2) A local legal organization, the ChumChon Thai Foundation, has a lawyer on the case in Phuket. On my recent visit to Rawai Beach, he told me the many struggles the Chao Lay are facing. Besides being sued to be evicted from their homes in an illegal land grab attempt, they are facing difficult fishing restrictions in their ancestral fishing grounds. The Thai government, in a goodwill attempt to protect the natural habitats around Phuket, has severely restricted fishing in the area. Good news for the environment, perhaps, but bad news for the Chao Lay. And many Chao Lay men have had their boats confiscated, and been jailed, over these disputes. Add to this the lack of education in the community, and the lack of running water and electricity, and the Rawai Beach community is in a world of hurt. Thanks to the work of ChumChon Thai, these needs are being addressed. And Speak Up is doing what we can to help.
(3) Speak Up has discussed with ChumChon Thai the need to do legal training for the leaders of the many Chao Lay and other poor communities in Phuket who are facing similar legal challenges. Starting in January, we hope to begin hosting a series of training events for community leaders to learn everything about their land rights, their rights under the Thai Constitution, and associated training issues. In a poorly educated Thai community, where many people speak a different language than Thai and have little to no understanding of the legal system, the obstacles to their effective participation in the legal process are great. Through a series of trainings, we hope to empower the Chao Lay to fight more effectively for the future of their villages.
And many thanks to my friends - you know who you are - whose generous targeted donation will fund these training events. ChumChon Thai and TLC are providing the lawyers. Speak Up is providing the money and trying to be the catalyst to make it all work. Thanks, supporters, for doing your part!