Network lauds decision to return Doi Suthep site to national park

[webfact]

Network lauds decision to return Doi Suthep site to national park

By PATINYA SRISUPAMART 
THE NATION

 

 

THE Chiang Mai people’s network was yesterday satisfied with the decision to return the site of the controversial residential project for court officials at the foot of the Doi Suthep Mountain to the Treasury Department.

 

The decision was conveyed to them during a meeting with PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana in Chiang Mai province.

 

“It is just a break in the battle but we will closely monitor the situation. We have high hopes that it would be a happy ending,” Teerasak Roopsuwan, coordinator of the network, said. He added that the meeting with Suwaphan reached what he described as a satisfactory result that no one would use the 45 houses and nine nearby buildings.

 

The network will closely monitor the government’s next moves to see whether it keeps its promises, he said.

 

The two-hour meeting chaired by Suwaphan agreed that a committee would be set up to look into what to do with the houses under construction. 

 

“The public and people’s network have campaigned to have all the housing buildings demolished and the site reforested. However their wishes face difficulties with law,” he said.

 

Teerasak said that there would be a channel after the site is returned to the Treasury Department and the department gives it to Forestry Department to turn it into a national park. 

 

“Forestry-related laws could possibly be applied to demolish the houses and the buildings,” he said. 

 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had assigned Suwaphan to travel to resolve the much-publicised feud over the presence of court officials’ houses and buildings on 147 rai of land at the foot of Doi Suthep. Several people’s networks had campaigned for their demolition, arguing that the construction had destroyed the forests to provide homes for the judges.

 

A series of protests were organised to vent their anger over the buildings, which were built with a budget of close to Bt1 billion.

 

The protesters claimed that the construction encroached on forestry-protected land but the Court of Appeals Region argued that the site was state property under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department and the construction of the buildings had been approved by the authorities concerned.

 

 

Meanwhile, Suwaphan told reporters that the meeting resolved that no one would be allowed to use the site in question.

 

The Treasury Department’s Chiang Mai branch will survey and measure the site to know the location to be rehabilitated.

 

“The government will be responsible to find a new location and budget for the judges,” Suwaphan said.

 

“The 33rd Military Circle in Chiang Mai is preparing its soldiers to plant trees in the area, starting on May 27 which is Visaka Bucha Day,” he said. 

 

Suwaphan reiterated that the Justice side had handed over the matter to the government and promised to respect and implement the government’s decision.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30344738

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-07

[webfact]

Thai environment protesters claim victory in battle over forest housing

 

The construction site of a government luxury housing project earmarked as homes for judges on land in the foothills of Doi Suthep mountains is seen in Chiang Mai, Thailand May 6, 2018. REUTERS/Panu Wongcha-um

 

CHIANG MAI, Thailand (Reuters) - Environmental activists in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai claimed victory after the country's military government agreed in talks on Sunday not to use forested land to develop luxury property.

 

It follows a protest in Chiang Mai last week in which more than 1,000 demonstrators protested against the construction of a government luxury housing project earmarked as homes for judges on land in the foothills of the province's famous Doi Suthep mountains.

 

Last week's gathering was one of the largest since Thailand's junta took power following a 2014 coup.

 

It was also one of a growing number of anti-government protests around Thailand, including in the capital Bangkok, that are putting pressure on the military government before a general election planned for early 2019.

 

Green ribbons symbolising the environmental movement have appeared in public places in Chiang Mai, including on lamp posts and on cars, over the past week.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha sent Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, a minister to the Prime Minister's Office, to Chiang Mai on Sunday to talk to protest leaders.

 

"We have concluded that no one will be living in this housing estate," Suwaphan said after a meeting with the activists, adding that the area "will eventually be restored to the forest."

 

Decisions on the future use of the land currently under development, which includes 45 houses, will be taken later this week, Suwaphan said, adding that the government will form a committee with activists and representatives from the local community to determine further steps to restore the land.

 

However, Suwaphan said construction of the homes already under way would have to continue in order for the government to honour its agreement with the construction firm involved.

 

He added that nobody would live in the finished homes.

 

Activists hailed the decision as a victory.

 

"What we have now is a promise that Doi Suthep forest will be restored," said Teerasak Roopsuwan, one of the movement's leaders.

 

"I think this could be a model for other parts of the country that public projects must not only be legal, but they must also consider local people's opinions," Teerasak said.

 

Sawat Chantalay, a Chiang Mai environmental activist, told Reuters that the activists will continue to organise public events to create awareness about such issues.

 

"This housing estate is like an open wound that reflects layers of problems Thailand has accumulated over many years," said environmental activist Wattana Wachirodom.

 

"But if the government doesn't fix this then people could rise up," said Wattana.

 

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um in CHIANG MAI, Thailand;Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Adrian Croft)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-07

[arithai12]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

"We have concluded that no one will be living in this housing estate," Suwaphan said after a meeting with the activists, adding that the area "will eventually be restored to the forest."

 

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

However, Suwaphan said construction of the homes already under way would have to continue in order for the government to honour its agreement with the construction firm involved.

This smells.

[lemonjelly]

The fact that public funds are used to build exclusive accommodation across Thailand for court officials is the wider scandal here; don’t think it’s only Chiang Mai. These judges earn more than enough to rent their own accommodation, just as the rest of the world.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He added that the meeting with Suwaphan reached what he described as a satisfactory result that no one would use the 45 houses and nine nearby buildings.

so, all those new buildings are just going to sit there, unused ? new low of productivity

[Bob12345]

2 hours ago, arithai12 said:

 

This smells.

It sure does.

Why not get a mediator to decide how much to pay the builders to cancel the contract? Saves a lot of money and is less wasteful.

 

Or just return the bribes the builder paid to get the contract.

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

so, all those new buildings are just going to sit there, unused ? new low of productivity

[cynical mode ON]

Nah, tomorrow Plan B will be that after the construction is completed, all the buildings will be relocated  brick-by-brick to another contentious location.

Another government idea to keep locals in work, at enormous public expense.

[cynical mode OFF]

 

[MaeJoMTB]

10 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

It sure does.

Why not get a mediator to decide how much to pay the builders to cancel the contract? Saves a lot of money and is less wasteful.

 

Or just return the bribes the builder paid to get the contract.

Or they could keep paying the builder to remove all the buildings and restore the forest.

[kannot]

They can give all the buildings to the poor  and let it slowly become a  slum. It sure cuts a nice scar across the landscape though

[tracker1]

If they believe they will remain unoccupied they believe pigs will fly !

[tracker1]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The network will closely monitor the government’s next moves to see whether it keeps its promises

Yep just like all the other promises it has kept !

 

[tracker1]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Environmental activists in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai claimed victory after the country's military government agreed in talks on Sunday not to use forested land to develop luxury property.

Is this not to use any more forested land ? sounds like a very shallow victory by the protesters but a good use of words by the Junta

[fantom]

What is the name of the lucky builder who got this juicy contract?

[NextStationBangkok]

It is like labors licking the fingers while harvesting honey for someone!

 

Thai People still believe that they are receiving honey, but all they get is daily dose of bitter medicine.

[fullcave]

They continue building but no one will occupy the land will bring back the forest? That's a victory? 

[thaigirlwatcher]

I hope that these houses meet the same fate as those houses in California that were also built in the forest. 

Edited May 7, 2018 by thaigirlwatcher

[bluesofa]

15 minutes ago, fullcave said:

They continue building but no one will occupy the land will bring back the forest? That's a victory? 

That's Thainess.

 

[Cadbury]

Just another tricky dicky type stunt by an artful and devious military government. The judges will ultimately reside in their new free houses; they just have to wait a little longer.

The local peasants will just have to suck it up. Military face is at stake here.

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, Cadbury said:

Just another tricky dicky type stunt by an artful and devious military government. The judges will ultimately reside in their new free houses; they just have to wait a little longer.

The local peasants will just have to suck it up. Military face is at stake here.

aka doublespeak - creative lying.

 

[Ulic]

Finish them, sell them, use the proceeds to build homes for the poor.  

[lvr181]

"that the area "will eventually be restored to the forest."

 

EVENTUALLY being the keyword here?

 

"Decisions on the future use of the land currently under development, which includes 45 houses, will be taken later this week, Suwaphan said, adding that the government will form a committee with activists and representatives from the local community to determine further steps to restore the land."

 

Yet another committee?

 

"However, Suwaphan said construction of the homes already under way would have to continue in order for the government to honour its agreement with the construction firm involved."

 

Bulls hit statement - no need to continue (unless Government thinks it will not have to "return" to forest) just pay the agreed final price and STOP the construction now!

 

Sure sounds like paying "lip service" to return area to forest. 

 

 

[Thailand]

Mushroom management from the ptb.

[Muhendis]

"However, Suwaphan said construction of the homes already under way would have to continue in order for the government to honour its agreement with the construction firm involved."

 

Why not stop building immediately and honour the contract by paying off the builder?  Since nobody will ever live in the houses there is little point in continuing.

[NorthernRyland]

What a joke. You get the government you deserve. 

[worgeordie]

Another project that has turned into a waste of money,and there

has been so many over the years.

regards worgeordie

[fakename]

Yeah sure, finish the houses, then tear them down? Sounds like a good idea! BTW, what happened to the guy with all the watches? Its good that Thais are so easily fooled!

[Stargeezr]

Fence in the whole area and let the houses sit until they are unliveable inside.

 Let this 1Billion be a lesson to the judges. and the military etc to quit being

corrupt. I doubt that will happen though

Geezer

[Jimbo in Thailand]

12 minutes ago, genericptr said:

What a joke. You get the government you deserve. 

I don't think anyone deserves the current "government".  And it's simply amazing this illegal project got this close to completion before Fearless Leader—apparently—decided to even address this festering issue.  WOW, it only took 4 years!

 

If Little P really wanted to make a name for himself he should hop aboard the biggest baddest bulldozer in LOS, fire it up, and begin steamrolling this blight.  Haha, like that's going to happen.

[NorthernRyland]

6 minutes ago, Jimbo in Thailand said:

I don't think anyone deserves the current "government".  And it's simply amazing this illegal project got this close to completion before Fearless Leader—apparently—decided to even address this festering issue.  WOW, it only took 4 years!

 

Tell that the Thai's I know then. Total apologists for the government and deeply apathetic to the problems in the country. Sometimes I feel like I care more about their country than they do.

[Megasin1]

Sometimes there is just no logic to anything. Given that the houses are virtually complete, it doesn't make any sense to demolish them. They have already done all the ecological damage and can't undo it as simply as that. It would make more sense if the Government were honest about this and then dedicated an area 4 X the size of this plot as a forestry area and planted it up to balance the damage done here and set new policies forbidding deforestation.