Government's vast land link endeavor potentially jeopardizes local residents' safety

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the Thai government to suspend the Ranong-Chumphon land bridge project, citing concerns over insufficient public participation, economic impracticality, and potential human rights violations.

The project, which includes ports in Chumphon's Laem Riw and Ranong's Laem Ao Ang, double-track rail links, and expressway connections, was conceived under the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) framework approved by the cabinet in 2018. However, the NHRC has raised questions about the project's economic justification and environmental impact.

Petitioners allege that the project is being advanced without providing the public with clear and sufficient information, leading to confusion and fears over land expropriation, industrial zones, and possible construction of power plants and dams. This lack of transparency has contributed to uncertainty and apprehension among local communities.

The NHRC has received complaints from various groups, including local farmer networks in Lang Suan district of Chumphon, the Rak Patho conservation group, and several residents. The commission has reviewed information from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the Department of Highways (DoH), and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand.

The commission recommends putting the project on hold until comprehensive and inclusive consultations are carried out with affected communities. The NHRC has advised the OTP, SRT, and DoH to jointly conduct a new round of broad-based public hearings.

Studies by the National Economic and Social Development Council and other experts have found that the land bridge would not significantly shorten shipping times and would incur higher transport costs than Singapore's well-established ports. The project, it is projected, would support only 18% of trade under the SEC framework.

The NHRC fears that pursuing the project without addressing these environmental and economic risks could amount to human rights violations. The project could harm the agricultural and fisheries economy of Chumphon and Ranong, particularly affecting small-scale farmers and indigenous sea gypsies. Environmental risks associated with the project include potential damage to national parks, mangrove forests, wetlands, and the Andaman coast, an area proposed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Moreover, the NHRC has criticised the lack of meaningful public participation in the project. Information provided was often incomplete, failing to explain negative impacts in detail, with some officials deferring questions to other agencies. The hearings only focused on mitigation measures rather than offering people a choice to reject or reshape the project. Agencies have conducted separate environmental impact assessments and organized more than 12 public hearings, but these were fragmented, preventing people from understanding the overall systemic impacts.

This falls short of meaningful participation as guaranteed under the kingdom's 2017 Constitution, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the UN Declaration on the Right to Development. The NHRC has emphasised the importance of ensuring that the voices of local communities are heard and their concerns addressed before moving forward with the project.

In light of these concerns, the NHRC's call for the suspension of the Ranong-Chumphon land bridge project underscores the need for thorough and inclusive consultation with affected communities to ensure that the project aligns with the principles of sustainable development and respect for human rights.