Starting point
Pattama Komed, a 48-year-old local resident of Sap Wai Village, Huai Yae Subdistrict, Nong Bua Rawe District, was prosecuted following the Forest Reclamation Policy implemented by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) after the 2014 coup. Along with 14 others, she faced two charges when Sai Thong National Park filed forest encroachment lawsuits in 2015.
In the trial court, Pattama was sentenced to 8 months in prison and ordered to pay damages amounting to 250,000 baht (7,356 USD). She served 2 weeks in prison before being released on bail to appeal her case. The appeals court upheld the 8-month prison sentence but reduced the damages to 200,000 baht (5,885 USD).
Pattama primarily works as a farmer, managing about 20 rai (approximately 3.2 hectares) of land where she practices crop rotation, such as growing cassava. After planting cassava, while waiting for the harvest, she takes on construction work or daily agricultural labour to earn extra income. Additionally, she serves as a village health volunteer (VHV) to help support her family, which includes her child, currently in the university, and her bedridden father, whom she has been caring for over the past six years.
Peace Journey
After being charged with forest encroachment, Pattama joined Kob in demanding justice and reclaiming their farming land. The women in Sap Wai Village have not formally organised themselves into an association but regularly gather to discuss strategies for addressing the legal cases brought against them by the state for alleged forest encroachment.
Pattama explained that most of those charged in Sap Wai Village are women, as farmland ownership is typically in the women's names. Women often take out loans from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) because men tend to work outside the home. While some men have also faced charges, discussions and problem-solving regarding legal issues are primarily led by women. These women's conversations occur through Facebook messenger platforms or gatherings at someone’s home, where they strategise how to continue fighting their cases.
Success Stories
Poverty and the heavy burdens borne by women in the village prevent them from fully engaging as peacebuilders or activists. However, Pattama plays an essential role in driving justice at the community level, advocating for her land-use rights. Alongside 13 other villagers, she continues to fight for justice for the people of Sap Wai Village, ensuring their voices are heard.
Whenever media or organisations visit the area, Pattama always steps forward to share her experiences in fighting against the injustices she has faced, no matter how exhausted she may be from her work. Her story has been featured in local media outlets, such as The Isaan Record and Prachatai, which has given her a sense of solidarity, knowing that many people stand with her.