<p>Members of the indigenous Karen communities living near the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex have raised concerns over unresolved community rights issues ahead of the Thai government&rsquo;s 4th nomination of the forest for world heritage status in 2021.</p>

<p>Open letter from the&nbsp;recipient&nbsp;of the 2020 Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia, Saw Paul Sein Twa, to the State Counselor on Human Rights Day, urging the government to take immediate action in resolving water contamination case in Myaing Ka Lay area.</p>

<div> <div>Ethnic Karen of Ban Wang Kho, Tambon Tanao Si, Suan Phueng District, vulnerable to forced eviction</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Government urged to heed cabinet resolution to provide restoration of the livelihoods of ethnic Karen</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> <div> <div>A fact-finding mission to Tanao Si was made on 9 January 2018 by representatives of the Cross-Cultural Foundation (CrCF) and the Karen Network for Culture and Environment. </div></div>

<p dir="ltr">Almost three years after the disappearance of Billy, the ethnic minority activist, the lives of the Karen in Kaeng Krachan remain in trouble, facing intimidation, drought and displacement.</p>

<p>After almost a decade-long legal battle, the Supreme Court has dismissed lawsuits against 2 members of the Karen ethnic minority in northern Thailand accused of land encroachment.</p> <p>On 22 March 2017, the Provincial Court of Mae Sot District in Tak Province<a href="https://www.facebook.com/naksit.org/posts/1308639735871188">&nbsp;dismissed the</a><u> case</u>&nbsp;against Nohaemui Wiangwicha and Dipaepo or Dipaepho, two members of the Karen ethnic minority of Ban Mae Omki, Mae Wa Luang Subdistrict, Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The Thai Administrative Court has ruled that national park officers did not break the law in&nbsp;<span>burnin</span>g the houses of members of the Karen ethnic minority&nbsp;in Kaeng Krachan National Park. &nbsp;</p>

<div> <div>The two-year-long investigation into a Karen activist’s disappearance has made no progress. </div></div>

<p>The Administrative Court of Thailand has acquitted National Park authorities accused of burning down the houses of a Karen ethnic minority village in an attempt to evict them, saying that the Karen encroached into protected areas. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>According to the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dailynews.co.th/politics/378291">Daily News</a>, the Central Administrative Court at 10 am on Monday, 8 February 2016, acquitted the Department of National Parks and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of malfeasance charges.</p>

<p>A mother is suing the Thai Ministry of Defence and the Royal Thai Army over the death of her son, who was allegedly tortured by army officers shortly before his death. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>According the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCf), a CSO promoting human rights and cultural diversity, on Wednesday morning, 26 August 2015, the Civil Court of Bangkok, Ratchadaphisek Road, heard testimony from plaintiff witnesses in the case of the alleged torture of Somchai Si-ueangdoi.</p>

<p>UNHCR has devised a plan to send refugees from camps in Thailand back to their homes in Myanmar on a voluntary basis while some refugee representatives said that they were not involved in the plan.</p>