By Yostorn Triyos |
<p>The "Forest Reclamation Policy,” led to regulations to stop encroachment on forest resources in 2014. Enforcement resulted in more than 46,000 villagers around the country being arrested and sued. Most were villagers who lived on, or had land plots that overlapped with, forest preserve areas in various ways.</p>
<p>A civil society organisation has urged police to step up measures to investigate the disappearance of a Karen human rights defender, pointing out that the case is being neglected.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crcfpage">Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF)</a>, a civil society organisation which promotes and monitors human rights in Thailand, on Wednesday submitted a letter to Police Region 7 in order to urge the police to step up efforts in investigating the disappearance of Pollachi Rakchongcharoen, aka Billy, a Karen human rights activist who disappeared on 17 April 2014.</p>