Legal Opinion on

“A lack of legal legitimacy for SBPAC to rush to conclude the public consultation process
regarding the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Songkhla’s Chana district
during the COVID-19 Outbreak and the imposition of the Emergency Decree”

ENLAWTHAI Foundation (EnLAW)
12 May 2020

The Southern Border Province Administration Center (SBPAC) has publicly invited people to participate and share their input regarding the development of the special economic zone (SEZ) in Songkhla’s Chana district pursuant to its announcement made on 28 April 2020. It has also been announced that the public hearings will be conducted in Tambon Sakom, Talingchan and Na Thap, Chana District, Songkhla during 14-20 May 2020. Detail of the announcement can be found in SBPAC’s website (http://www.sbpac.go.th/?p=55137). The project will lead to drastic change of the current land utilization transforming the agricultural land into an industrial zone. It will inadvertently take its tremendous toll on the livelihood of local people, natural resources and the environment in Songkhla and adjacent provinces. 

As an organization which promotes access to environmental rights of the people, EnLAW finds the Announcement by SBPAC, as the project developer, concerning the methods and criteria regarding the public consultation lacks legal legitimacy and is unfair to the people based on various reasons including;  อ่านต่อ