Government's expansive land link venture potentially imperils local inhabitants

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Thailand has raised concerns over the Ranong-Chumphon land bridge project, citing issues with public participation, environmental risks, and economic impracticality.

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. Its intended purpose is to connect shipping routes between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

However, the NHRC has noted that separate environmental impact assessments have been conducted and more than 12 public hearings have been organized, but these were fragmented, preventing people from understanding the overall systemic impacts. Local communities faced repeated burdens of attendance, while certain groups, such as island-based ethnic minorities, were excluded due to poor outreach.

The NHRC has received complaints from local farmer networks in Lang Suan district of Chumphon, the Rak Patho conservation group, and several residents. They allege that the project is being advanced without providing the public with clear and sufficient information. This, according to the NHRC, 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 project could harm the agricultural and fisheries economy of Chumphon and Ranong, particularly affecting small-scale farmers and indigenous sea gypsies who rely on traditional fishing. 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.

Studies by the National Economic and Social Development Council and other experts found that the land bridge project would not significantly shorten shipping times and would incur higher transport costs than Singapore's well-established ports. The hearings only focused on mitigation measures rather than offering people a choice to reject or reshape the project.

In response, the NHRC has called for the suspension of the Ranong-Chumphon land bridge project. They have resolved to advise the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), and the Department of Highways (DoH) to jointly conduct a new round of broad-based public hearings before the land bridge project can proceed. The NHRC recommends that the project be put on hold until comprehensive and inclusive consultations are carried out with affected communities.

As a result, many residents remain uncertain or fearful about the project's potential impacts on their lives and the environment. The NHRC's concerns about human rights violations, economic impracticality, and inadequate public participation have raised questions about the project's future.