Rights to heritage and the environment in Thailand

Thailand's approach to Indigenous heritage, exemplified by the ongoing conflict over land rights in the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (KKFC), reveals a persistent tension between state authority and Indigenous claims. Designated as a national park in 1981 and later listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, the KKFC has been at the center of forced evictions of the Karen community, highlighting Thailand's 'crypto-colonial' legacy shaped by colonialism and Cold War influences. This chapter underscores the unresolved struggle for Indigenous rights to both natural and cultural heritage, illustrating how historical contexts continue to influence contemporary conflicts over land and recognition in Southeast Asia.

Santikarn, A. (2023). Rights to heritage and the environment in Thailand. Asia’s Heritage Trend, 187–214. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003396765-11