The sea belongs to us: Stories from Thailand’s Ocean Defenders

The worsening climate crisis is threatening Thailand’s oceans. And with destructive fishing, onshore and offshore industrial projects, and a lack of government plans for climate action, more and more people are suffering in this global crisis.

As the Rainbow Warrior sails around Thailand to raise awareness about these threats, we have connected with the communities who are experiencing firsthand the dangers of this rapidly changing marine ecosystem. These ordinary people who live in coastal communities are gravely affected by government policies and development projects that endanger their livelihood. Now, they are rising together to protect their homes. 

Meet the Ocean Defenders of Thailand:

Somchok Jungjaturant – Phato Conservation Network

“I was born, raised, and educated in Phato. I will probably die here, fighting against the land bridge,” says Somchok Jungjatruran, or Chok. 

Chok owns a durian orchard in Phato, Chumphon, where a landbridge is being proposed to be built, along with a large industrial estate. While Phato isn’t a coastal community, it is ecologically linked to rivers, forests, and the sea.

“Phato is a magical land, halfway between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, ideal for high-value crops like durian. Lang Suan district, on the Gulf side, is about 40 km away, while Ranong, on the Andaman side, is about 25 km.This central location brings rain from both the east and west. Phato’s mountainous terrain and basin shape make it suitable for agriculture, with abundant forests like Pak Song, Pang Wan, Phato, and Phra Rak, the source of the Lang Suan River. We have rich soil, water, wildlife, and plants.”

Chok and the Phato community established the Phato Conservation Network’ due to the changing direction of the land bridge project, from the NCPO government to the current one. They decided to study it themselves, comparing it to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council report under the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning. They formed a network, initially for those affected, now focused on preserving Phato as a legacy for future generations and a national treasure.

“I want to emphasize that forests, rivers, and seas don’t belong to the government, but to the Thai people.”

Chok concludes firmly, “I want to determine our future based on our local potential. We’re not against development. Phato’s slogan is ‘Green mountains, rafting, mist, beautiful waterfalls, famous fruits.’

“Phato is abundant in natural resources. We live harmoniously with nature, with rich soil, water, and air. Phato is perfect for high-value agriculture. We don’t need an industrial estate here. Any development should align with our local potential.”

Khairiyah Rahmanyah – Daughter of the Chana Sea

Khairiyah Rahmanyah, or Yah, had just turned 18 when she made national headlines. Yah is a fisherman’s daughter from Chana, Songkhla, who campaigned for the government to revoke the cabinet resolution to build the Chana Industrial Estate. She didn’t want to see her abundant coastal home become an industrial zone.

“We live in a good environment and want our future generations to experience the same. This is what we hold onto,” Yah says.

Most people in Ban Suan Gong, including Yah’s parents, are fishermen. Those without boats fish with nets or spears at night. Yah helps her parents pull the boat, remove crabs from nets, and sell the catch.

“The sea doesn’t just support our community, but the entire country and region. Fishing boats sell seafood to markets and restaurants in Bangkok and other provinces, as well as in Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea,” Yah explains.

During the 4-year struggle of the Chana Rak Thin Network, from protests and sit-ins in front of the Government House to facing legal charges for exercising their freedom of expression, the community voiced concerns about the unfairness of the public hearing process and the potential environmental and livelihood impacts of the industrial estate, especially on the sea they depend on. Yah and the Chana community demanded the government postpone the project and conduct a thorough Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).

Currently, the Chana community envisions their future through community cooperation to propose policies they truly have a say in. The Voice of Chana report reveals that Chana’s sea and coast are home to hundreds of economically and ecologically valuable marine species, highlighting biodiversity and a crucial income source for local fishermen and related occupations, as well as food security for the local, national, and international levels. This confirms what the community has been fighting for and voicing for years.

Matom Sinsuwan – Displaced Thai Fisherman

Rajakrud, Ranong is another key location for the landbridge project. We spoke with coastal communities there, who expressed concerns about the impact on resources, livelihoods, and their homes, which are likely to become sites for large industrial estates and a deep-sea port in Ao Ang. These concerns are especially strong among the small fishing village of displaced Thai people who have long relied on the sea but are often neglected by the government.

Tom Sinsuwan, or Ma Tom, says she moved to Moo 7, Ban Huai Pling, 30 years ago and built her family there. She was a displaced Thai person who was missed in surveys and moved there before having an ID card, which she obtained at 40 after advocating for it.

“Before we were granted ID cards, we walked to the Government House, over 5,000 of us. This led to displaced Thai people gaining rights through ID cards, but around 2-3 thousand people in Moo 7 are still considered as displaced persons.”

© Roengchai Kongmuang / Greenpeace