Since the previous government launched the Seafood Bank Project, things have gone from bad to worse for local fishermen in 13 seaside southern provinces.

Most of them cannot understand why the sea - which has long been for public use - now suddenly belongs to a few. Wooded fences have been erected along the shoreline where people have been fighting to lay claim to the marine areas.

"Suddenly, local people have stopped being nice to one another. They are now in a fight over who owns what," Southern Fishermen Federation secretary general, Sama-ae Jehmudor said.

Based on a Cabinet resolution passed in early 2004, the Seafood Bank Project was introduced to issue title deeds for some marine areas. Supplementing the government's much-touted assets-capitalisation scheme, it was designed to help poor people obtain the deeds and use them to seek loans for fish farms.

So far, the project has completely failed to benefit local people.

In addition to people squabbling over the deeds, a large number of fishermen have lost the use of marine areas that should have been kept open for public use. Many big investors have also claimed ownership rights in some areas ahead of local people.

Meanwhile, local people who have managed to obtain title deeds have been unable to get the much-needed loans from the banks.

With such problems - and more emerging - fishermen from 13 seaside southern provinces banded together to demand the government immediately scrap the project.

"The government should stop making decisions on natural-resource management and on how people will live," Sama-ae told a forum earlier this month.

He said the government should learn to respect local people's rights and power.

"Allow local people to be involved in the decision-making process," he said.

Sama-ae said the government should refrain from forcing development projects that hurt local communities' natural resources, way of life and equality.

Supaporn Pannarai, from the Songkhla Lake Fishermen's Federation said she hoped the new constitution would protect communities.

"Anyone responsible for projects that hurt communities should be punished," she said.

Lamai Manakarn, a co-ordinator of South-based non-government organisations, said if the government failed to involve the public in decision-making for any project it would have to take responsibility when that project had an adverse impact.

"The government should also amend laws to better respond to different ways of life, culture, traditions and religions," she said.

Speaking at the forum, Kasem Boonya from the Trang Fishermen's Group said civic organisations and non-government organisations should be able to sue the government for environmental damage via a specially-established court.

Held at Prince of Songkla University in Songkhla's Hat Yai district, the forum invited people from relevant sectors to air their opinions on "Reform of the Thai Marine Environment is Political Reform".

Information from the forum was gathered and forwarded to the Constitution-Drafting Assembly.

Participants hoped the new Constitution would give greater rights to local people and communities. They also hoped the government would recognise that fishermen's problems need serious attention.

Anan Paengnoy

The Nation