Consider A case Concerning Forestry by Critical Race Theory

Abstract

This article analyzes the problems of forest criminal charges in a pretrial stage, in which national park officials and police launched against highland ethnic groups. The author adopts a Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a lens to examine a case study.

This article begins with Boy’s experienced story, in which his family’s land was seized, and his mom was charged. Then, I explain the Critical Race Theory that this article adopted as the central concept. Finally, I apply the theory to analyze the case study.

This article has three arguments. First, the criminal charges and land seizure launching against the highland ethnic groups are the effects of the “hill tribe” identity that has been constructed and reinforced on the highland ethnic groups as forest destroyers. This stigma makes society believe that the way highland ethnic groups use land poses threats to the ecosystem.  Second, legal officials employ different normative practices in treating marginalized people and people in a higher class. There is a secret norm in a trial process that classifies accuses’ classes. Finally, forest criminal charges are used to legitimize the power holders—to legitimize forestry agencies who have had failed performance and legitimize the coup leaders (the National Council for Peace and Order) to be in power.