15 March 2013  
Thai Climate Justice Working Group (TCJ)

A workshop on “Draft Thailand REDD+ Readiness-Preparation Proposal (R-PP)” was organized on 7 March 2013 by the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) of the World Bank and the Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests (LEAF). According to its objective, the workshop was suppose to provide an opportunity for CSOs, local communities and ethnic groups relevant in the REDD+ process to review the Thailand RPP draft. 

However, since the draft had already been sent to the FCPF Participants Committee (PC), the event left no room for amendment to the draft even if it was unsuitable and contained incorrect information. The only possibility was to attach an appendix to the draft, or make presentations in the meeting to DNP, the Thai project implementing agency. Hence representatives of the Thai Climate Justice Working Group from Banthat Mountain Land Reform Network and the Karen People Network had no option but to walk out of the meeting in disappointment.

TCJ proposed in the meeting of March 7th that the DNP should extend the time frame for submission of the draft R-PP to the Worold Bank by two months in order to allow meaningful participation by the people.  TCJ was ready to participate in the design and preparation of the content for the participation process, to coordinate with people’s networks that had previously been neglected to join the process, as well as to adjust the structure of the content and fill in the missing gaps. This proposal was rejected by the DNP and also by the World Bank given reason that that the PC’s delivery of the draft R-PP had been scheduled and could not be postponed.  

TCJ therefore makes comments and proposals on REDD+ process in Thailand, particularly the R-PP process, based on two main issues: (1) participatory process was problematic, (2) the content of the draft was defective in important substance. 

TCJ also proposes that the parties involved, the PC, the World Bank and the Thai representatives, shall take action to show responsibility. Unless the World Bank takes steps towards a meaningful resolution of the problems rather than pressing ahead with the Thai PC's draft without substantial amendments, it will be complicit in a non-transparent and fraudulent process that takes advantage of the people.

Finally, the Thai Climate Justice Working Group is not and does not claim to be a representative of the people’s sector. We provide these comments as a group that has been monitoring REDD+ issues. The most appropriate method to solicit comments and opinions from the people is to open up a space for genuine public discussion, not merely for public relations purposes or give motivation to select organizations or groups.

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