Article 17 “The United Nations should foster close relations with civil society to strengthen the application of international rules” Commentary Ms. Sunee Chairos Ms. Sunee Chairos, a National Human Rights Commission member, said that the above case reflects the tireless efforts of activists working for the protection and promotion of community rights. Thailand has made remarkable progress over the years with regard to recognition of community rights as set forth for the first time in the 1997 Constitution. However, she feels that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is weak in this regard since it focuses only on individual rights and disregards the recognition of community rights. This focus on individuals does not tackle issues like community management or environmental impacts and benefits shared among community members. There are many instances where the communities should have maintained the right to live on the land that their ancestors settled on a long time ago, or to have a say in the management of local nature reserves that they have helped to conserve. However, the lack of legal documentation or proof of ownership often deprives them from enjoying these rights they have traditionally been entitled to, she explains. Ms. Chairos says that the Ban Krut incident is just one example of the type of circumstances some people have found themselves in over the last six years. More than 600 cases have been filed during this period related to property rights with impacts on land, water, natural resources and forest management. These cases affect a large number of people, families and communities. The concerns observed are related, among other things, to administrative decisions on the proclamation of park zones and infrastructural development activities, as well as to investment from the private sector, including, for example, mining activities. Many rights have been contested, including economic, civil, cultural, political and social rights, she says. Some of these cases occurred even before the adoption of Our Voices are Heard in Thailand 77