Forestry chief appeals over transfer order

By The Nation

 

 

OUTGOING FORESTRY Department Chief Chonlatid Suraswadi yesterday submitted a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, asking for justice regarding his sudden transfer to the Permanent Secretary Office of the PM’s Office as a special adviser.

 

He says his transfer may be a result of his intensive suppression against major investors encroaching upon forest reserves.

 

Chonlatid cited checks he had made on records with anti-corruption agencies, including the National Anti-Corruption Centre, but found no records that a panel had been set up against him.

 

He insisted on his innocence, saying he had never had any record of corruption-related acts during his 30 years in the civil service. He said he was seeking justice in this fresh transfer. 

 

Chonlatid said the accusation may have stemmed from his suppression work against major investors, and erroneous information might have been spread against him and caused a misunderstanding of his actions. Among the cases is a new airport construction plan in Phangnga province, which allegedly encroaches on the forest reserve. Chonlatid said some people had accused him of asking for a bribe but he has cleared himself with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, after explaining the issue.

 

Chonlatid said he had accepted the order and taken up a new job on national reform and strategy. Some civil organisations, including Mae Jam residents that Chonlatid has been working with to turn deforested mountain areas to forest land, want his transfer stopped.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30328661

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-07

Out on a limb ?

It would not be the first time a government official was threatened for doing too good a job.   At least nobody has threatened he or his family.

I know the forestry department has been very publicly (reported on national television news) raiding and attempting to seize places which have never been forrestry land.

 

Why would they do that and who would benefit from such an act ?

 

I suspect there's some kind of land grab going on in recent times.

Just now, ukrules said:

I know the forestry department has been very publicly (reported on national television news) raiding and attempting to seize places which have never been forrestry land.

 

Why would they do that and who would benefit from such an act ?

 

I suspect there's some kind of land grab going on in recent times.

Was told before the junta usurped power, the courts in Chiang Mai were overloaded with cases of encroachment.  The junta supposedly fast tracked these cases to clear the back log, and perhaps some rather well connected people's cases are coming up which would is not the norm in Thailand. 

Could it be a family matter?

         

Suraswadi on left is Plod the propeller man of 2011 fame.  

3 hours ago, ratcatcher said:

Could it be a family matter?

         

Suraswadi on left is Plod the propeller man of 2011 fame.  

 

Also known for his proposed B4.5k/head exotic-meats buffet, for tourists visiting the then-new Chiang Mai Night Safari, approximately a decade earlier  ...

 

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/50982-chiang-mai-safari-rare-animals-on-the-menu-at-zoo/