Three conservation groups are rallying for public support against two bills they say would grant amnesty to forest encroachers and investors, influential figures or politicians linked with them.
The groups: Kasetsart University’s Forestry Alumni Society, the National Parks Association of Thailand, and the Love Thailand Network, launched their online campaign on Sunday, urging the public to sign a petition against the law changes.
About 10,000 people signed on the first day, according to the groups.
They warned that the bills could lead to the loss of millions of rai of forest and weaken Thailand’s forest protection and management systems.
In a joint statement, the groups argued that while the bills are aimed at granting an amnesty for individuals found guilty of forest land encroachment, including the local poor, they would also benefit wealthy investors, influential businesspeople and politicians who have illegally occupied or exploited forest areas.
They also mentioned the absence of a clear timeframe for the amnesty, which could effectively pardon offenders not only from the past but also those who commit encroachments in the future.
They further suggested that lawmakers who back the bills may be in breach of parliamentary and judicial codes, while the bills themselves could violate the Constitution and the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption BE 2561. By allowing the legislature to override judicial powers, the groups said, the bills contradict democratic principles and the rule of law.
The bills are currently under review by a special parliamentary committee chaired by Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, MP and leader of the Prachachat Party. The deliberation is expected to be completed by the end of this month.