Fearless ranger committed to protecting forests

By The Nation

 

 

The man who led the park rangers team that arrested Italian-Thai Development president Premchai Karnasuta and three others for illegal hunting has been hailed as an unsung hero who has taken on different influential figures in order to protect forests and wildlife.

 

Vichien Chinnawong, chief of the western section of the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province, has come under the spotlight following the high-profile arrest.

 

 

He has been involved in many arrests of poachers and forest encroachers since his graduation from Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Forestry. He and his team have fearlessly gone after local politicians, influential figures and transnational gangs preying on coveted rosewood.

 

In September 2014, Vichien arrested a politician in Mukdahan province for poaching in a local wildlife sanctuary. In 2017, he led a team of park rangers to confiscate 160 rai of land found to have been encroached on by a local politician in Kanchanaburi. 

 

Reacting to concerns that discharging his duties may land him in trouble, Vichien said: “I am not afraid of getting transferred. My duty is to protect the forest.” He added that he was just doing his job fairly and honestly, and he did not care about the consequences.

 

Samak Donnapee, a respectable former director of the Department of National Parks, described Vichien as one of three active forestry officials who are “genuinely devoted and determined” to protect the forests.

 

Yesterday, an image of Vichien apparently taking a nap while leaning upright against a car was circulated on social media. The photo was first posted by Department of National Parks veterinarian Pattarapol Manee-on on his Facebook page, with a message, “You can’t sleep in this position unless your day is really bad. He did this after two nights without sleep. Take care of your health, Chien.”

 

Vichien posted this message yesterday: “Smart Man, Smart Ranger, Smart Patrol. That is what my team and I have always adhered to be in doing our work.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30338248

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-08

A new hero. Keep it up but watch your back.

Not a hero perhaps, but a man with true convictions and sense of duty that

cant be intimidated or bought by the rich, famous and the influential , Thailand

can sure do with many more like him....

3 hours ago, webfact said:

genuinely devoted and determined” to protect the forests.

Just hope he bags himself an ultra rich, well connected, ill mannered, elitist scumbag trophy.  Considering what was found at the accused house, there may be a shortage of brown envelopes in the near future.

Should be promoted,.....but will end up been transferred

to some shit hole down South where its very dangerous,

no place in Thailand for conscience Government workers 

in Thailand,especially if they arrest the rich and influential.

regards wogeordie

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Samak Donnapee, a respectable former director of the Department of National Parks, described Vichien as one of three active forestry officials who are “genuinely devoted and determined” to protect the forests.

they have three officials with integrity...

It's great to hear from guys like this, a really refreshing change to hearing the daily lies and contradictions from Big P and Little P.

 

 

Astonishing that our leader who profess to fight corruption has not say of praise nor invite Vichien to his office and give him a medal. Really reveal so much falsehood in him leading the charge against corruption. More like fighting selective corruption. 

I hope they protect him. People in his situation in the past often met with unexplained accidents.

On 08/02/2018 at 5:19 AM, ezzra said:

Not a hero perhaps, but a man with true convictions and sense of duty that

cant be intimidated or bought by the rich, famous and the influential , Thailand

can sure do with many more like him....

In Thailand the title hero is justified. People go missing or worse for less than this guy is doing