OPINION

Fight for rights, not for awards

Editorial, Published on 07/07/2019

» Abid by Thailand to have a forest reserve in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi listed as a Unesco World Heritage site (WHS) has brought public attention to the cultural identity of the ethnic Karen people. Experts at Unesco’s World Heritage Committee have delayed their decision to add Kaeng Krachan National Park — which was nominated in 2013 — on the heritage list after complaints by Myanmar about overlapping areas and a petition signed by the ethnic Karen in which they accused the Thai state of failing to recognise their cultural identity.