A land rights activist and leader of an embattled village community in the northeastern (Isan) province of Chaiyaphum has reportedly been missing for five days.

Villagers and officers of Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in Thung Luilai Subdistrict, Khon San District, Chaiyaphum, on Wednesday, 20 April 2016, were searching for Den Khamlae, leader of the embattled Khok Yao Community and land rights activist, Esaan Land Reform News reported. 

According to Suphap Khamlae, Den’s wife, her husband has been missing since 16 April after he went into the forest to collect bamboo shoots with two dogs. The two dogs later returned home without her husband.

On 18 April, Suphap went to Thung Luilai Police Station to file a complaint about the disappearance of Den, but there were no police officers at the station. She therefore travelled to Huai Yang Police Station in Khon San District, but the police officers told her that she had to first file a report with officers of the Royal Forestry Department (RFD).

Later, she reported to the 4th Provincial Forest Ranger Unit asking for their assistance to search for Den, but they informed her that they were not responsible for the area where Den went missing. They told her that the area is under the responsibility of Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary.

Suphap told Esaan Land Reform News that she was surprised that the 4th Provincial Forest Ranger Unit refused to help her because earlier the Unit, together with soldiers and administrative officials, entered Khok Yao community several times to inform the villagers that they have to move out of the area.

Khok Yao community has repeatedly faced threats of eviction by the state after NCPO Order No. 64/2014 was issued in June 2014. In August 2014, officials informed the villagers that they would have move out of the area and that their houses and plantations would be demolished within 15 days.

The eviction was halted only after community leaders joined the national land reform movement with the People’s Movement for Just Society (P-Move), a civil society group, which urged the government to halt the measure. But no conclusive result has been reached.

Accused of trespassing into Phusap Pak Nam protected forest, many villagers in the community have been charged with land encroachment, including Den. However, Den and the other accused were granted bail and the case is currently with the Supreme Court.

Villagers and officisls of Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary in Thung Luilai Subdistrict, Khon San District, Chaiyaphum, on a search for Den Khamlae on 20 April 2016 (courtesy of Esaan Land Reform News)