Bangkok

The organization had formed about 10 years ago and amalgamated eight different networks of slums of various shapes and sizes from small 50 to 100 family squats along the canals to stilted and braced shacks of thousands.  The structure was complicated with FRSN more the action arm of the residents and other entities more likely to be able to get support from donors and supporters, even surprisingly the government.  The handles for legalization were tenuous still and the demands seem to be tactically designed to break the stalemate, either moving from the 30 year rental situation enjoyed by many of the slums to a collective title, or an affirmative relocation and support program that made a difference.   The march today was part of a regular diet of mobilizations designed to keep the issue moving forward and was met with more promise from assistants to the Commissioner of coming responses in the near future.

In the way these dialogues can produce real understanding or complete confusion, we spent quite a long time trying to get a grip on the impact of registration by families in Bangkok.  We had earlier from friends at the Solidarity Center that many were not registered in the city and still had to return to home provinces to vote, but in the slums this had huge consequences because without household registration families could not access electricity or water or schools for their children.  The procedure for registration requires something more than squatting, like an address or an indication of renting.  If the requirements are met, then 90 days later, the family can be registered.  If not, children are put in school using a neighbor or friends address.  Water is hauled and lights are connected through the long, illegal wires of the slums.

Registration is also the trigger for being able to vote, so we left scratching our heads at how the urban poor could exercise political and organizational leverage without the ability to exercise the franchise in this constitutional monarchy.  This is a huge obstacle and begs for an extensive campaign.

Bangkok

Wong makes the case that these squatter settlements have been stable along the canals for the last 10 years.  A new policy by the government allows such communities to apply for formalization and title to the land.  Three of the four settlements have done so, but thus far not successfully, even though they are managing the canals and land now.

A march is planned on Monday to link these issues and UN Habitat day.

We are here at a good time, it seems!

Much more to come as we get on the ground and running!

Silver Springs

Needless to say in the tradition of past dialogues, Thailand has been in the news over the last year.  At various times either yellow shirted or red shirted marchers have been leading huge protests, including shutting down the international airport for days at one point over the legitimacy of various governments. This is complicated stuff, but fortunately our old friend, Rudy

Porter, who helped us so much so much in Jakarta, is now directing the AFL’s Solidarity Center in Bangkok and will be able to guide us again!  He will also be helping introduce us to unions that are still organizing.

Somehow we seem lucky this trip in having friends with deep relationships to people and organizations in Thailand.  Our Korean comrade, Na, has worked with community organizations there and Fides Bagasso of LOCOA may be there at the same time we are doing training for organizers in their Asian network which would be a huge treat for all of us!  The Forum for the Global South is located in Bangkok and so is the headquarters for Asian housing based organizing.

Our biggest problem may be how to see everyone we are going to want to visit!

This problem gets even harder, if that is possible when we venture towards the border and refugee area.  On Wednesday evening we will go to Chiang Mae and then on Thursday morning van over to Mai Sot where 150,000 refugees live in various camps and conditions, many dating to 1988 and the military coup in Burma.  The big advantage we have here is that the area has been a special project of our friends at the British Columbia Government Employees Union (BCGEU), and they have generously detailed Mike Orders of their staff who has visited the area several times to help put this part of the Dialogue together.  Yesterday I got several pages of notes of groups from women’s refugee organizations to health clinics to community, labor, and political groups that might merit a visit.  Luckily, Mike is already sorting the opportunities into a group A and a group B.  We’ll come back to Chiang Mae on Friday night to finish the dialogue, but as usual I’m betting some of delegation may stay over a couple of days.  The word on Chiang Mae and the area is that it is quite something to see in its own right.

We already have interest from community organizers in Iowa, Ontario, and Maryland and labor interest from Seattle, Vancouver, and Montreal, so don’t dilly-dally, but send an email to chair@organizersforum.org and stake your claim to a seat in the delegation.  You handle the air fare and a program fee, and the Forum handles the lodging and food.  Unfortunately for Thailand, but luckily for us, the prices are good if we move quickly.

Talk to someone who has been to one of the earlier dialogues in Brasil, India, South Africa, Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, or Australia.  This is a great experience for senior organizers, and we would enjoy having as many of you as we can accommodate.