Who was Jurin Rachapol & why was he murdered?
By Manon Whittaker, MAP
Asia Intern
Asia Intern
Jan 30th, 2016 is an important, but
very sad day as we mark the 15th anniversary of Jurin Ratchapol’s assassination.
very sad day as we mark the 15th anniversary of Jurin Ratchapol’s assassination.
Jurin was a leading local activist against shrimp farm development which
destroyed the mangroves in his home province of Phuket, Thailand. He was just an ordinary man, but cared
passionately for the nature around him which provided food and livelihoods for
his family and villagers. But it was his
courageous campaigning efforts which drew attention and gained recognition from
Queen Sirikit who honoured him with an award.
destroyed the mangroves in his home province of Phuket, Thailand. He was just an ordinary man, but cared
passionately for the nature around him which provided food and livelihoods for
his family and villagers. But it was his
courageous campaigning efforts which drew attention and gained recognition from
Queen Sirikit who honoured him with an award.
Jurin was shot dead in cold blood, at close range on January 30, 2001
while picking cashews near his village home.
WHY?
while picking cashews near his village home.
WHY?
Fifteen years later, how has the situation improved for Phuket’s
mangroves? What are the current concerns and what actions are being taken? Have
we really learned a lesson from Jurin’s sacrifice and the deadly tsunami which
followed a few years later?
mangroves? What are the current concerns and what actions are being taken? Have
we really learned a lesson from Jurin’s sacrifice and the deadly tsunami which
followed a few years later?
 |
| Jurin Ratchapol (Source: Wildlife Fund Thailand’s (WFT) “Coastal Wetlands Policy and Conservation Awareness Project”) year: unknown |
I am the new intern at the MAP Asia office in
Thailand and I was asked to write an article about Jurin Ratchapol, to remember
the 15th anniversary of his assassination. Having no previous
knowledge about this man and the story behind his murder, I searched the
internet in order to find newspapers articles which could enlighten me. Here is
what I discovered.
Thailand and I was asked to write an article about Jurin Ratchapol, to remember
the 15th anniversary of his assassination. Having no previous
knowledge about this man and the story behind his murder, I searched the
internet in order to find newspapers articles which could enlighten me. Here is
what I discovered.
Jurin Ratchapol, was a leading activist against
shrimp farm development in the province of Phuket (a popular tourist
destination in the South-West of Thailand). Jurin appears to have been a very
passionate man who fought feverously to protect the natural environment against
wealthy developers. His campaigning efforts stimulated two very different
reactions. On one hand, they drew positive attention and encouraged people to
fight for their livelihoods, hence Jurin received an award from Queen Sirikit
for his actions. On the other hand, his campaigns were not well perceived by
neighbouring shrimp farm owners who regularly sent him death threats. In the
end, Jurin’s passion and bravery caused his murder on Januray 30th
2001. He was shot while simply picking cashew nuts in is village. The murderer,
who was a former worker of the neighbouring shrimp farm, which was encroaching
on the community’s mangrove, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
shrimp farm development in the province of Phuket (a popular tourist
destination in the South-West of Thailand). Jurin appears to have been a very
passionate man who fought feverously to protect the natural environment against
wealthy developers. His campaigning efforts stimulated two very different
reactions. On one hand, they drew positive attention and encouraged people to
fight for their livelihoods, hence Jurin received an award from Queen Sirikit
for his actions. On the other hand, his campaigns were not well perceived by
neighbouring shrimp farm owners who regularly sent him death threats. In the
end, Jurin’s passion and bravery caused his murder on Januray 30th
2001. He was shot while simply picking cashew nuts in is village. The murderer,
who was a former worker of the neighbouring shrimp farm, which was encroaching
on the community’s mangrove, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Jurin Ratchapol’s activities where then taken
over by his brother, Jurun and fellow villagers. The latest news I found about
Jurun’s campaigning efforts go back to January 6th 2011 where a
complaint was launched about plans to convert protected forest department land
to community forest. The story doesn’t tell what the outcome was…
over by his brother, Jurun and fellow villagers. The latest news I found about
Jurun’s campaigning efforts go back to January 6th 2011 where a
complaint was launched about plans to convert protected forest department land
to community forest. The story doesn’t tell what the outcome was…
I was eager to discover if the situation has
improved in Phuket, 15 years after this tragic event. Did Jurin Ratchapol’s
murder raise awareness and trigger positive actions among the population of
Phuket? What is the current situation for mangroves in the area?
improved in Phuket, 15 years after this tragic event. Did Jurin Ratchapol’s
murder raise awareness and trigger positive actions among the population of
Phuket? What is the current situation for mangroves in the area?
How
much mangrove area is left? Do we even
know?
much mangrove area is left? Do we even
know?
Comparing data from the FAO/IUCN, it appears
that the total area of mangrove coverage has decreased by 1200 ha from 1975 to
2007.
that the total area of mangrove coverage has decreased by 1200 ha from 1975 to
2007.
In fact, Phuket’s sustainability indicator
report indicates that between 1975 and 2012, almost 70% of all forest areas in
Phuket and Phang Nga had been encroached on. In addition, about 150 ha of
mangrove forests in the province have been damaged.
report indicates that between 1975 and 2012, almost 70% of all forest areas in
Phuket and Phang Nga had been encroached on. In addition, about 150 ha of
mangrove forests in the province have been damaged.
Mangroves
lost at what future cost?
lost at what future cost?
The most recent news I found on mangrove
encroachment in the province, just 7 months ago was in June 2015, where
villagers from Suwan Pa Bang Khanun in Thalang (a northern
district of Phuket) complained about encroachments on the mangrove forest and
building of illegal structures in this area. Phuket’s Vice Governor, Somkiet Sangkhaosutthirak, solution was
to install a clear delimitation and signalization of the boundaries of the 6.5
ha mangrove forest.
encroachment in the province, just 7 months ago was in June 2015, where
villagers from Suwan Pa Bang Khanun in Thalang (a northern
district of Phuket) complained about encroachments on the mangrove forest and
building of illegal structures in this area. Phuket’s Vice Governor, Somkiet Sangkhaosutthirak, solution was
to install a clear delimitation and signalization of the boundaries of the 6.5
ha mangrove forest.
Moreover, in March 2015, the navy led an
investigation into an ATV tour company and five shrimp farms for alleged
encroachment of more than 30 ha of mangrove forest in Pa Khlok. In the same
month, dispute over land also occurred in Bang Sai beach, near Cape Yamu on the
east coast of Phuket, as recently planted mangroves had been uprooted and advertising
signs were installed.
investigation into an ATV tour company and five shrimp farms for alleged
encroachment of more than 30 ha of mangrove forest in Pa Khlok. In the same
month, dispute over land also occurred in Bang Sai beach, near Cape Yamu on the
east coast of Phuket, as recently planted mangroves had been uprooted and advertising
signs were installed.
Disaster
Risk Reduction: Green or Grey?
Risk Reduction: Green or Grey?
The coast of Phuket is highly affected by
erosion since the Tsunami event in 2004. As a response the government appears
to be favouring the construction of seawalls instead of mangrove rehabilitation.
In fact, multiple proposals were formulated in July 2014, by the Cherng Talay
mayor and Phuket’s Governor Maitri Inthusutto, to build seawalls to protect
Phuket’s beaches. The seawalls would be made out of either sandbags, gabions
(cages filled with rocks), revetment (sloping wall), or concrete.
erosion since the Tsunami event in 2004. As a response the government appears
to be favouring the construction of seawalls instead of mangrove rehabilitation.
In fact, multiple proposals were formulated in July 2014, by the Cherng Talay
mayor and Phuket’s Governor Maitri Inthusutto, to build seawalls to protect
Phuket’s beaches. The seawalls would be made out of either sandbags, gabions
(cages filled with rocks), revetment (sloping wall), or concrete.
Let’s
hope it’s not too late!
hope it’s not too late!
On the bright side, a couple of mangrove
restoration and protection projects have also been occurring in the past couple
of years.
restoration and protection projects have also been occurring in the past couple
of years.
In September 2013, as part of their Green
Initiative, staff from KEE Resort in Patong (on the west coast of Phuket) and school
students planted 500 mangroves in Pak Klock, on the east coast of the island.
Initiative, staff from KEE Resort in Patong (on the west coast of Phuket) and school
students planted 500 mangroves in Pak Klock, on the east coast of the island.
In August 2015, Navel personal, local officials
and students planted thousands of mangroves in Phuket for the celebration of
Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday. These events also helped raise
awareness and promote rehabilitation and protection of mangroves among Thai
people.
and students planted thousands of mangroves in Phuket for the celebration of
Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday. These events also helped raise
awareness and promote rehabilitation and protection of mangroves among Thai
people.
Despite these efforts
it is clear that, since Jurin Ratchapol’s death, no solutions or agreements
have been found as encroachment of mangrove areas continued to occur in 2015.
There is still many actions and fights to overcome for restoring and maintaining
mangrove areas as well as for ceasing their destruction in Phuket.
it is clear that, since Jurin Ratchapol’s death, no solutions or agreements
have been found as encroachment of mangrove areas continued to occur in 2015.
There is still many actions and fights to overcome for restoring and maintaining
mangrove areas as well as for ceasing their destruction in Phuket.
What’s Phuket’s future without mangroves? Sea defences from wind and waves, erosion
control, local fisheries livelihoods, seafood, coral reefs and eco-tourism, coastal
water quality all depend on healthy mangroves ecosystems.
control, local fisheries livelihoods, seafood, coral reefs and eco-tourism, coastal
water quality all depend on healthy mangroves ecosystems.
If Jurin returned to Phuket today would he be proud or saddened by what
he saw?
he saw?
References:
FAO and UNEP, 1980, South China Sea fisheries
development and coordinating programme: The Present State of Mangrove
Ecosystems in Southeast Asia and the Impact of Pollution, Manila.
development and coordinating programme: The Present State of Mangrove
Ecosystems in Southeast Asia and the Impact of Pollution, Manila.
Society Environment Economy Knowledge (SEEK), 2013,
Phuket Sustainability Indicator Report: SEEKing a Sustainable Phuket, Phuket,
Thailand.
Phuket Sustainability Indicator Report: SEEKing a Sustainable Phuket, Phuket,
Thailand.
The Phuket News, June 2015, Officials move against land grabs in northern
Phuket – http://bit.ly/1nQsBrR
Phuket – http://bit.ly/1nQsBrR
Phuket Gazette, March 2015, Navy probes ATV tour operator, shrimp
farms for mangrove encroachment – http://bit.ly/1UsgEmr
farms for mangrove encroachment – http://bit.ly/1UsgEmr
Phuket Gazette, July 2014, Phuket
mayor seeks B60mn for seawall to stave off coastal erosion – http://bit.ly/1ROJEXT
mayor seeks B60mn for seawall to stave off coastal erosion – http://bit.ly/1ROJEXT
Bangkok Post, September
2013, Phuket Mangrove Forest Grows: 500 New Trees Planted – http://bit.ly/1PU8uzv
2013, Phuket Mangrove Forest Grows: 500 New Trees Planted – http://bit.ly/1PU8uzv