Network hardens its stance on Doi Suthep project after survey

[webfact]

Network hardens its stance on Doi Suthep project after survey

By CHULARAT SAENGPASSA 
NISANART KANGWANWONG 
THE NATION

 

 

A SURVEY has suggested that the houses of 45 court officials, which are being constructed at the foot of Chiang Mai’s Doi Suthep mountain, definitely encroach on forestland.

 

Following the survey by a public-private committee yesterday, the Network to Reclaim Doi Suthep Forest reaffirmed that constructions encroaching on forestland must be demolished to minimise environmental damage. 

 

On Tuesday, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha suggested that it was unlikely court officials would be using these buildings following the controversy and urged those who are opposed to the project to use the buildings for public purposes instead. 

 

“We want the forest back,” the network’s coordinator, Teerasak Rupsuwan, said yesterday. 

 

 

He said Chiang Mai people did not want to see any building in a forest zone.

 

“Users will only be cursed,” he said. 

 

He emphasised that it was necessary to rehabilitate the forest at the construction site fast otherwise rain would likely bring mud and soil to the Mae Chok dyke during the upcoming rainy season. 

 

“That dyke provides water to Chiang Mai residents. If soil and mud goes there, water may be spoiled,” he said. 

 

 

He believed Prayut would change his mind when he sees the controversial site with his own eyes and receives full information on the environmental impact.

 

Teerasak was speaking after he joined the public-private committee, set up by the Third Army Area chief Lt-General Wijak Siribansop on Monday, to survey the controversial location from outside the construction site. 

 

To date, the Court of Appeals Region 5, which acquired the plot for the construction from the government, has not yet approved the request for the committee to survey the construction site. 

 

 

“But even from the outside, locals can tell the constructions have encroached on forest zone,” Teerasak said. 

 

Meanwhile, an online campaign against court officials’ residences at the foot of Doi Suthep on Change.org has received more than 46,000 supporters. 

 

Launched by Dr Thanong Thongphubate, the campaign urged the Court of Appeals Region 5 to vacate the land. 

 

The court has maintained that it acquired the plot and the budget legally for the project.

 

Thanong’s campaign argues that, legality aside, the constructions at the current controversial site has hurt the landscape and ecology of Chiang Mai. 

 

“It’s not worth using land this way,” the campaign said. 

 

A Netizen, who signed his name in support of the campaign yesterday, said forests belonged to nature – not humans. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30343012

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-12

[colinneil]

People can protest all they want, that eyesore development will just go ahead.

We are the judiciary and do whatever we want, nobody can stop us.

Just another case of people in power sticking 2 fingers up at the general population.

[Juan B Tong]

Wow! Having the words “Users will only be cursed", spoken.

 

Ain't nobody gonna want to live there, but forest ghosts.

 

 

 

 

[Stargeezr]

Shame on the military and everybody who surveyed this place, the developers, the builders

PM and the judges and their families who ever thought that they could move in and live there.

Geezer

[Ulic]

Finish the project, sell the units at the fair market rate and use the proceeds to

build homes for the poor. Whoever build them looses there money. It would

be ridiculous to simply bulldoze buildings that are 90% complete. 

[jonstarjon]

3 hours ago, Ulic said:

Finish the project, sell the units at the fair market rate and use the proceeds to

build homes for the poor. Whoever build them looses there money. It would

be ridiculous to simply bulldoze buildings that are 90% complete. 

There would be no hesitation to demolish this development if it was a hotel or a beach front property ... So what's the hold up? Would have happened already if it was anything to do with a foreigner.

Edited April 12, 2018 by jonstarjon
Clarity

[Srikcir]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

the Court of Appeals Region 5, which acquired the plot for the construction from the government

The CoA was allegedly "granted" the property by the military who held separate title from the State. So the property was not "acquired" from the "government." The CoA submitted its development plans for approval to the military and not to the State (ie., Ministry of the Interior or Land Department). It was the military that decided that there was no environmental impact, not the State.

Can the Network sue the Court of Appeals? Perhaps only in the Supreme Court to bypass the CoA. But under the constitution the whole judicial system is subjugated by the junta's absolute power. 

It's an embarrassment to say the least and corruption at the worst that the CoA has involved itself in this development. But one could argue that the military was being blatantly influential to grant this property to the judiciary that might have to some day judge charges brought against the military.

[Retiredandhappyhere]

12 hours ago, Ulic said:

Finish the project, sell the units at the fair market rate and use the proceeds to

build homes for the poor. Whoever build them looses there money. It would

be ridiculous to simply bulldoze buildings that are 90% complete. 

The Government have been bulldozing buildings all over the country that were often (100%) completed many years ago. It did not bother them then.  No-one has yet explained whether theses houses are for the free use of the court officials or whether they actually have to pay for them one way or another.  It is more likely that these homes are not intended for full-time occupation by the elite people involved but more likely  for their occasional holiday use.  Some may even be rented out by the new owners for a profit. If they have indeed encroached on forest land, they should be demolished, as a warning to other potential Government organisations or private companies with similar plans.

[midas]

On 4/12/2018 at 10:02 AM, Ulic said:

Finish the project, sell the units at the fair market rate and use the proceeds to

build homes for the poor. Whoever build them looses there money. It would

be ridiculous to simply bulldoze buildings that are 90% complete. 

WOW that would really set a wonderful precedent.

Where next? High-rise condos on the top of Doi Suthep