Burning law leads to conflict

Minister's trip North aims to defuse tension

Cheewin Sattha & SUBIN KHUENKAEW

Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham yesterday flew to haze-hit Mae Hong Son province to defuse growing tension between highlanders and local authorities over the strict enforcement of a law on farmland burning.

Mr Paiboon, accompanied by senior officials from the Interior Ministry, met state officials and highland residents in seven districts.

The minister was trying to settle conflicts following the recent enforcement of the law on forest and farmland burning.

The anti-burning law sparked an outcry from highlanders, who account for 90% of the province's population.

They claimed the law was against their traditional way of life and resisted by burning more farmland, which worsened the air quality in the province.

Mr Paiboon urged the two sides to patch up their differences and find ways to alleviate the haze in the province.

Jorkor, a representative of Karen tribespeople, said most hilltribe villagers did not understand how the burning of forests or farmland has affected the environment and created problems for those living in lowland areas.

During the crop season, burning farmland to prepare the ground for the next season of crops was part of the highlanders' way of life, he said.

"The recent announcement against farmland burning has put highlanders under pressure. Some comply with the order. Some defy it and have even burned more farmland. They are unaware of the environmental consequences for people in the lowland," said Mr Jorkor.

Interior permanent secretary Pongpayome Vasaputi said the haze has dented the local economy, particularly tourism.

Mae Hong Son governor Direk Konkleep blamed the tension between authorities and highlanders on poor communication. He said he has ordered an information centre to be set up in each district, to iron out misunderstandings.

During yesterday's meeting, hilltribe representatives sought permission to allow the burning of farmland from March to mid-April.

They promised to keep the fires from spreading to forest areas.

The authorities agreed to ease the rule and ordered local leaders to keep an eye on burning activities.

Supoj Klinpraneet, chairman of the Mae Hong Son Tourism Association, said many tourists had cancelled flights to the province after it was declared a disaster zone.

He proposed the authorities limit the burning activities to seven or 15 days. The regulation would help put the thick smoke under control.

Currently, new burning activities occur almost every day.

Bangkok Post

Saturday April 07, 2007