Safety concern for rangers in Premchai case

[rooster59]

Safety concern for rangers in Premchai case

By THE SUNDAY NATION

 

 

A FORESTRY reformer has expressed concerns about the safety of Thung Yai sanctuary chief Wichian Chinwong and his subordinates after they arrested the president of Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), Premchai Karnasuta.

 

Premchai and three companions are accused of poaching and possessing wildlife at the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi.

 

The four had entered the sanctuary on February 3 before being captured by rangers the next day after they were allegedly seen possessing firearms, ammunition and the carcasses of wild animals, including the rare black leopard.

 

On Tuesday, they were charged with nine offences related to illegal poaching and possessing wildlife in the World Heritage Site sanctuary.

 

However, Assistant Professor Khwanchai Duangsathaporn, of Kasetsart University’s Forestry Faculty, and a member of the natural resources and environment reform committee, said considering the relatively weak mechanisms in regard to forest suppression and justice, he was concerned about the team’s safety.

 

Khwanchai urged the relevant agencies to provide thorough and continued support to the team to fight the case, especially legal support. Past experience suggested that forest officials had not been supported, and sometimes faced charges themselves, after arresting influential figures.

 

The professor proposed that long-term and more consistent mechanisms be put in place, including more severe penalties.

 

Khwanchai said the present wildlife conservation law carries relatively light penalties. It has no penalties for those who sneak into the forest without permission, and does not demand compensation for damage done.

 

He said members of the reform committee have been working on amending the wildlife conservation law to provide for more hefty penalties. Those proposed amendments are now with the Council of the State, and the changes need to be expedited.

 

The amendment would see those sneaking into the forest facing a jail term of no more than six months, a fine up to Bt100,000, or both.

 

Those poaching in the forest could be sentenced for 3 to 10 years and a fine from Bt60,000 to Bt2 million, compared to the present penalties of a five-year jail term, a fine of no more than Bt50,000, or both.

 

The new amendment also demands compensation from the wrongdoers, the professor added.

 

Khwanchai said that, besides amending the law, forces to suppress forest crimes must be upgraded, and a more capable forest crime suppression unit with integrated knowledge and expertise should be introduced within the next three years, along with a new environmental court.

 

Last but not least, Khwanchai said, the social security benefits of forest rangers should be improved to boost their morale.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30338533

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-11

[mok199]

as a parent and an advocate for animal rights...I will say this ''we cant even trust our childrens education system not to fail them,how the F could we ever believe the system would protect our wildlife....with so much shamlessness  and greed in this country the answer is obvious...

[hansnl]

2 hours ago, mok199 said:

as a parent and an advocate for animal rights...I will say this ''we cant even trust our childrens education system not to fail them,how the F could we ever believe the system would protect our wildlife....with so much shamlessness  and greed in this country the answer is obvious...

Greed, Sir, can be found anywhere.

And greed brings brings a lot of unsavoury things.

Trouble is, Sir, the law should be the same for all, but I do think that principle is highly debatable and is influenced by the amount of change available.

Everywhere in the world.

Money brings power and power corrupts.

[yellowboat]

3 hours ago, mok199 said:

as a parent and an advocate for animal rights...I will say this ''we cant even trust our childrens education system not to fail them,how the F could we ever believe the system would protect our wildlife....with so much shamlessness  and greed in this country the answer is obvious...

Understand your fears.  The average wildlife ranger seems to take his job seriously and are more ethical than those above them.  Many who attain high rank do so by doing favors. 

 

As for education, some friends in Thailand have hired graduate students to home school and help educate their children.

Edited February 11, 2018 by yellowboat

[gandalf12]

These guys need to be given a high level of protection. I hope they get

[Chris Lawrence]

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

However, Assistant Professor Khwanchai Duangsathaporn, of Kasetsart University’s Forestry Faculty, and a member of the natural resources and environment reform committee, said considering the relatively weak mechanisms in regard to forest suppression and justice, he was concerned about the team’s safety.

 

Khwanchai urged the relevant agencies to provide thorough and continued support to the team to fight the case, especially legal support. Past experience suggested that forest officials had not been supported, and sometimes faced charges themselves, after arresting influential figures.

So the Prof. is going to let them bunk at his place.

 

The sad piece to this story is that wildlife in Thailand has some endangered species, that will never be replaced. It has been in the past a food for people more impoverished. However big bucks command that going into protected sanctuaries are a very profitable business. 

 

This is also a responsibility of the international community to protect what we have left. There is little need to go in and shoot wild game, even in Thailand. The palate for bush food is being lost. 

 

But the poor Prof. is right, these wardens are at risk. Hope they have someone watching their back.

[wavemanwww]

2 hours ago, gandalf12 said:

These guys need to be given a high level of protection. I hope they get

I totally agree 24/7 protection and monitoring of all calls to their mobiles. I guarantee the scum bag will start that process with threatening calls from his hired Thai mafia ASAP and if one call made forget the financial fine. as he can easily afford, double his gaol/jail sentence as punishment.

[Donotdisturb]

On the social ladder they are low. The fat italian thai clown is high on the ladder. Do i need to say more?

[Elkski]

You guys paint a bleak picture of Thailand.   

[gandalf12]

6 hours ago, wavemanwww said:

I totally agree 24/7 protection and monitoring of all calls to their mobiles. I guarantee the scum bag will start that process with threatening calls from his hired Thai mafia ASAP and if one call made forget the financial fine. as he can easily afford, double his gaol/jail sentence as punishment.

I would love to say you are wrong but you are not. He is a brave man and deserves all the protection he can get

[VocalNeal]

Do what they do in some African countries . Shoot the poachers first and ask questions later.