Judicial Process and Mechanisms of Conflict Resolution in the Case of Land Use Mapping in the Eastern Economic Corridor

Abstract

                   This qualitative research aims to analyze and synthesize the justice processes and conflict-mediation mechanisms employed in the formulation of land-use planning within Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), as well as to propose legal recommendations for establishing reconciliation mechanisms in the area. Data were collected through document analysis and in-depth interviews, verified using triangulation, and analyzed through interpretive content analysis. The findings reveal that the justice processes and conflict-mediation mechanisms implemented by the state comprise four key approaches: 1) establishing participatory processes during the formulation of land-use plans in the EEC, 2) adjusting land-use zoning and suspending development projects in response to local demands, 3) communicating policy to ease tensions surrounding land-use changes, and 4) implementing compensation and remedy measures for affected communities. Legal recommendations to foster reconciliation and social harmony in the EEC include: 1) ensuring meaningful and genuine public participation in the preparation of district-level comprehensive plans under Section 32 of the EEC Act B.E. 2561 (2018), 2) conducting regulatory impact assessment and policy evaluation, 3) amending the EEC Act to address concerns raised by civil society, 4) applying appropriate mediation mechanisms tailored to the nature of conflicts, and 5) eliminating existing conflicts while preventing future disputes. These recommendations aim to strengthen justice, trust, and accountability in land-use governance within the EEC.