Hmong's 30,000s lychee trees destroyed
in Chiangklang District, Nan Province


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Photos : Destruction | Paklang Panel Discussion 22-Oct-2000
CHRONOLOGY
1850 Groups of Hmong had immigrated to a mountainous land in Chiangklang and Thungchang district, Nan Province which is close to Thai-Laos border.
1932 Hmong villages had been officially recognized by Thai government and Mr. Saen Phrom had been appointed as Hmong villages leader.
1964 Communist started to access to Hmong villages.
1967 Gun fighting between communist and the government had started. Hmong Paklang was in the government's side and involved in the fighting.
1968 Hmong hilltribe people agreed to the Thai authorities' proposal that they leave their mountainous area in Chiang Klang district, which is under communist influence, and resettle in Tambon Pa Klang, Pua District. Known later as Paklang Hmong, each family is given 10 rai of farmland close to the new settlement.
1977-1982 The remaining Hmong resistance fighters give themselves up to the Thai authorities and settle in a forest area next to the old settlement of the Paklang Hmong villagers.
1982 Land shortage as a result of population growth and non-fertile farmland force the Paklang Hmong to return to their original settlement in Chiang Klang district and turn the farmland into lychee plantations
1988 19-Oct., Doi Phukha which covering all Hmong farmlands in this mountainous area was establish to be "Doi Phukha National Park".
1999 16-Feb., The Chiangklang district chief orders the Pa Klang Hmong villagers to vacate their lychee orchards.
1999 22-Mar., There were 200 Thungchang lowland villages lead by Mr. Umnuay Wadkham, the chief of Thungchang Sub-District protesing infront the provincial hall, complaint that they were suffering from Hmong who destroying forest and watershed on the mountain.
1999 23-Mar. at 13.00 PM, Mr. Plodprasob Suraswadi, Director of Forestry Department revealed that Forestry Department will join with the army around 566 armed person to drive Hmong out from the forest areas in Doi Phukha National Park. After that , he will use 600Mill.Baht of Miyazawa Fund for reforestation. (Source : Dailynews of 25-Mar-1999)
1999 In April, an assembly of highlanders in the North meet in Chiang Mai and reach a conclusion that there should be a registration of hilltribes making use of forest areas, followed by land ownership verification.
1999 11-May, a cabinet resolution empowers the authorities to arrest forest encroachers with the exception of Paklang Hmong and some other ethnic groups whose land ownership has yet to be verified. (Source : www.bangkokpost.com/today/040900_news03.html)
1999 21-Aug., Forestry chief Plodprasop Suraswadi leads lowlanders and government officials to plant trees as part of the department's reforestation programme in lychee orchards belonging to the Pa Klang Hmong but leaves untouched orchards belonging to other groups in adjacent areas. Forestry Department chief Plodprasop Suraswadi reportedly said during the reafforestation that if the Hmong failed to keep his trees well, they would lose their lychee trees in return. "It is one lychee tree for one of our trees".
2000 In May, lowlanders in Chiang Klang issued an ultimatum, demanding the Pa Klang Hmong abandon their orchards which they say are watershed areas. The Hmong, however, vow to stay on.
2000 19-Jun., Chiangklang lowland, together with Royal Forestry Department officers, local police, and Border Patrol Police, blocked the road leading into Hmong farmlands. A large group of lowland Thai entered the Hmong lychee orchard and cut down roughly 2,000 trees (in 12 orchards), burning down 7 field houses, water pipes and water storage units, and destroying everything in the orchard areas. The orchard, formerly resembling a forest of large trees, was completely destroyed.
2000 04-Jul., Paklang Hmong villagers complain to the Nan governor about damages they have suffered from the June 19 raid.
2000 15-16 Aug., Representatives of the National Security Council visit the area and hold separate meetings with lowlanders and highlanders
2000 21-Aug., the same date of last year that Mr. Plodprasob leading lowlanders to plant tree on the mountain and over some of Paklang Hmong's farmland. Again, the road leading to these villagers' lichee farmland at Chiang Klang District, Nan Province was blocked under the auspices of the local officials. This is when the destruction of Hmong farmlands began. On this date the lichee tree orchard of at lest 297 Hmong families were destroyed. This included the destruction of several houses which were burned to the ground, over 30,000 of their lichee trees chopped down, along with the destruction of their water reserves, irrigation systems and farming equipment. In addition, at least one house was burned before its owner and several cooking utensils were destroyed; particularly one pot was cut on the stove while the owner was cooking for lunch.