"We have lived on this land since we were born - if they want us to move, we don't know what to do to make a living. Nobody will move," said Onjan Thuannok, 47, a resident of Ban Khoke E Doi, which is located near a forest reserve in Ta Phraya district in Sa Kaew province.

Ta Phraya National Park is part of the Khao Yai-Dong Phaya Yen forest range, which was announced a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

The relocation is needed because a border patrol police unit, which has overseen the area, has handed over its responsibility to the Royal Forest Department.

Onjan dismissed authorities' claim that villagers staying in the area would deteriorate the condition of the forest. "We have been staying in jungles but never wanted to exploit them," she said.

She said all 88 families living in the area had only sought natural products such as bamboo shoots and mushrooms for consumption and sale at a small level. She said those who poached or encroached on protected land were people from outside the area.

Yuth Harnchuk, 63, said the villagers even helped to watch out for intruders or encroachers.

A new area, totalling around 3,000 rai and not far away from the national park, has been developed for long-term residence.

"Most villagers are happy with what they have now - a road network and permission to obtain some forest products - and live happily here," Yuth added.

Yuth said the families were also worried about their "clay homes" project, which they had built for use during meetings, and would like to see it further developed into a tourist attraction, which would mean more revenue could be assured.

Ta Phraya is part of the Phanom Dongrak mountain ridge covering areas of Sa Kaew and Buri Ram provinces. The park is located south of the Korat high plain and is 594 square kilometres. It is 380 kilometres east of Bangkok.

The highly fertile forest area with diverse conditions was used as a stronghold by communist guerrillas in a period of armed struggle against the Thai government during the 1970s.

It received national park status on November 22, 1996, the 82nd such park in Thailand, before being announced the second world heritage site in the Kingdom on July 14, 2005, after Thung Yai Naresuan-Huay Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary.

Damrong Phidej, director-general of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, said he was worried that the 88 families might encroach further on other reserved areas that were located near the site.

He said officials would not use force or any intimidation in persuading them to relocate. Those who relocate will be paid expropriation costs and compensation. But he did not say whether action would be taken against villagers if they did not cooperate.

Jaroonrat Hiranchunha, chief of Ta Phraya National Park, said he was coordinating with provincial authorities to work out measures to accommodate the relocation.

"I personally think that if they wanted to move, they would have done it by now. And if they really don't want to go, we can do nothing at the moment," he said.

Ta Phraya district chief Thammasak Rattanathanya said electricity and water services could not be provided to the families as long as they still lived in the reserved areas, but they would be provided with the basic necessities in the new area prepared to accommodate them.

Anan Paengnoy

The Nation