Local rights eyed for charter

Local rights eyed for charter

Resources need protection: forum

The government should put community rights in the new charter to help local villagers, a forum was told on Sunday.

Angkhana Neelapaijit, the former National Human Rights Commissioner, proposed the new constitution include the community rights, or outsiders will be allowed to exploit local natural resources.

“It is necessary the charter be amended. Community rights, which were present in the 1997 and 2007 constitutions, have disappeared in the latest one. It means local villagers would have the same rights as outsiders who come and go once natural resources in an area are used up. However, some have asked whether the people’s charter is sponsored by foreign countries with ill-intent. Parliamentarians know that nobody totally agrees with any law. Instead…