Thailand’s Direct Investments in Neighbouring Countries Impacts to the Environment and Communities, and Violations of Human Rights

Extra-Territorial Obligations Watch Coalition (ETOs Watch Coalition) formed by the civil societies and nongovernmental organizations that monitor the development and environment situation in neighboring countries of Thailand, consisting of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (also known as CLMV), especially the situation of human rights violations and the struggle for natural resources arising from direct investment by state-owned enterprises or private  whether or not the said situation will affect the border crossing into Thailand.

This report “Thailand’s Direct Investments in Neighbouring Countries: Impacts to the Environment and Communities, and Violations of Human Rights.” was translated from the Thai version that finished in September 2017. it contains 12 case studies in different countries, classified by country, consisting of;

Laos; Xayaburi hydropower project, Pak Beng hydropower project, Hongsa coal – fire power plant, and mining.

Myanmar; Hatgyi hydropower dam project, Dawei Deep seaport and special economic zone Project, Ye coal-fired power plant project, Heinda tin mine project, Ban Chaung coal mine project, Mawlamyine cement factory and coal-fired power plant project.

Cambodia; Koh Kong economic land concession for sugarcane plantation and sugar factory project, economic Oddarmeanchay land concession for sugarcane plantation and sugar factory project.

Vietnam; Quang Tri 1 thermal power plant project.

The main content of this report dividing the main points into the following; an overview study of Thai direct investment globally and in the ASEAN region, the policy to promote investment in countries in the CLMV region, the situation of monitoring various projects by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (September 2017), 12 case studies (this section will show investment patterns, related departments, organizations or institutions, the impact of human rights violations, communities, and the environment).

This report has made important findings that the various problems arising from direct investment in neighboring countries, caused by important factors such as the legal loopholes and enforcement, the gap in the regulations of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the gap of the NHRCT’s investigation and recommendation, the lack and incomplete of disclosure of information and the public hearing, the responsibility of commercial banks that provide loans to various projects, etc.

ETOs Watch Coalition sincerely hopes that this study report will be the beginning of the process of monitoring the situation in neighboring countries, which will promote the learning process of Thai society and neighboring countries which will lead to the development of cooperation to enhance Thailand direct investments focuses primarily on the protection and respect of human rights rather than remedies because this is the basis of the process involved in deciding the future of the community who may have changed forever.

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You could access the full version of the report at the link below

Click to access tdi_translated.pdf