Who are we?
FemSamyan (เฟมสามย่าน) is an independent feminist club based in Bangkok, Thailand. Members are students from Chulalongkorn University. The objective of the club is to be a gathering space for feminists on the campus, as well as the space to connect with various communities to build a young feminist community.

Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand (SPFT) (สหพันธ์เกษตรกรภาคใต้) is a movement of peasant and landless workers in Southern Thailand, occupying land that was held illegally by oil palm conglomerates and calling for the Government’s duty to redistribute agricultural land to peasants and landless workers. SPFT is advocating for collective approaches to land ownership and management and is a member of P-Move (People’s Movement for a Just Society).

This exposure is initiated by FemSamYan and supported by Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand (SPFT) and Seed Funds from Focus on the Global South’s Gender Justice Program.

Land Rights! Rubber Harvesting! English Class! The journey of FemSamyan to the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand (SPFT) opened our eyes to the political movements of the people. For some of us, it was the first time hearing the term “collective ownership,” which led us to jokingly refer to everything as communal, communal cats! Communal dogs! Because everything in the community is allocated fairly and equally. We had the chance to visit Khlong Sai Pattana and Santi Pattana communities, and we even organized English classes for both children and adults. This experience brought us closer to understanding the essence of SPFT.

First Steps into SPFT

At the heart of Khlong Sai Pattana, we arrived as the activities had already started. Everyone was lined up in front of a monument in the center of the community. It was December 21, 2024, marking the 16th anniversary of the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand. The event included lining up, a moment of silence, laying flowers in remembrance of passed away activists, and singing together. The atmosphere was lively, with people setting up booths in the community’s open space, selling food, vegetables, fruits, drinks, and even 16th-anniversary SPFT shirts designed by local artists. Next to the market area was the community kitchen, where we got to taste SPFT’s food.

After the ceremony, there was a session by BioThai on food security, seeds, and the potential impacts if Thailand joined the UPOV Convention. One of our members, who is studying law, was particularly impressed by the discussion, realizing the importance of this knowledge, something that isn’t taught in law school but should be.

English Class

On the second day, we organized an English learning activity. In the morning, we held a session for children and youth, ranging from kindergarteners to late elementary school students. We designed the class to be fun and interactive, using catchy songs and cute character visuals to make English learning enjoyable. More than just a language class, it became a space where we got to know the community better.

For the adult session, we focused on practical English skills, such as creating scripts for self-introduction at events. Some of the younger participants even joined the adult class afterward. Through teaching English, we built connections with the people and felt inspired to return. We also wanted to invite more friends to join us in organizing engaging activities for the community in the future.

Getting to Know Santi Pattana Community

Spending two nights in Santi Pattana deepened our understanding of SPFT. We woke up early to harvest rubber, wearing borrowed long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect ourselves from the rubber. But in the end, we were the ones happily playing with the rubber scraps, unconcerned about getting dirty. Later, we explored the community’s natural springs, farms, and gardens.

For one of our members, it was their first experience living in a house without electricity or running water, prompting reflections on how capitalism conditions us to depend on material comforts. Our stay in Santi Pattana also gave us the chance to talk with people who had participated in the historical milestones of October 6 (massacre, 1976) and October 14 (uprising, 1971), helping us understand the ideological roots of SPFT and its connections to past peasant movements.

The Feminist Peasant Movement

As members of “Fem Samyan,” we have been part of youth movements observing various social issues. In the feminist movement, we have seen the challenges of integrating gender justice into mainstream pro-democracy protests. We often face questions like, “Why focus on gender?” or hear dismissive remarks like, “Democracy comes first,” revealing that even in youth-led movements, gender justice is not always understood.

Visiting SPFT showed us a peasant movement where women were not just participants but leaders. The community actively upholds gender justice through a dedicated women’s wing, rules that ensure safety, and awareness programs on women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. Moreover, men in the community openly acknowledge the crucial role of women in the struggle.

The Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand stands out as a strong and unique movement, offering valuable lessons for us, as young feminist activists. We hope to encourage more youth to learn from this resilient community so that we, too, can build a powerful feminist movement in the future.