Doi Suthep defenders ramp up protests for removal of residences

[webfact]

Doi Suthep defenders ramp up protests for removal of residences

By Nisanart Kangwanwong 
The Nation

 

 

The “Rak Chiang Mai” community network on Thursday organised four flash mobs at four key locations of Chiang Mai’s Muang district to highlight what they says is a lack of progress in removing controversial buildings at the foot of the “sacred” Doi Suthep mountain.

 

Network co-ordinator Saowakhon Sriboonruang said protest sign-waving flash mobs were held at Three Kings Monument, Tha Phae Gate, Waroros Market and Iron Bridge. 

 

She said the flash mobs were to remind people that Doi Suthep Forest Reclamation Network and other organisations continued to call for return to the Treasury Department of the estate’s 45 houses and nine flats that they claim sit on land within the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. 

 

Flash mobs would also be held at various sites in the run-up to a major protest slated for August 26 at Tha Phae Gate, she said.

 

 

As well, a “citizens’ council session” will be convened on August 15 at Wat Nantharam’s community hall so that the residents and officials of related agencies could share their opinions and vote on proposed solutions to the ongoing stand-off, Saowakhon said.

 

Built at a cost of nearly Bt1 billion, the estate has a total of 13 apartment buildings, 45 houses and an administrative office building for Court of Appeals Region 5.

 

Following a thousands-strong protest on April 29, the government in early May brokered an agreement for a portion of the property to be handed over to the Treasury Department before being reforested and returned to the national park.

 

That deal allowed for the office building and four flat buildings to remain.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30351825

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-09

[from the home of CC]

I believe the government was hoping people would forget about this, doesn't look likely.

[trainman34014]

It' ain't gonna happen unless someone at the very top, and i mean the very top, steps in and orders the barmy army to get it done.    It can happen if these people keep making enough noise and i hope they do.....loud and clear for as long as it takes.

[smedly]

These protests are nothing to do with conservation or national parks - it is to do with certain privileged people getting free luxury housing at the expense of the tax payer, not saying that either are not just causes - I believe they are, you've got to have questions as to why these people are getting free expensive housing paid for from public coffers  

[worgeordie]

I was expecting all those houses to have slid down the hill with

all the rain we have been having,that would be poetic justice.

regards worgeordie

[chuang]

Keep it up....

[lordblackader]

Three people - I'm sure the junta and the judiciary are quaking in their boots with fear ?

[Srikcir]

17 hours ago, smedly said:

These protests are nothing to do with conservation or national parks

The protests should as this development violated Thailand's environmental laws.

 

When the military transferred the undeveloped property to the Judiciary, it became the responsibility of the Judiciary and the Executive branches of government to adhere to environmental laws and the constitution that in part requires an environmental assessment report and public participation in any decision making process for development of that property. None of that process happened.

 

The assurance by the military that such development at the time of transfer was legal holds, ironically, no merit.

Prayut is always demanding the public obey the rule of law. This development is just another example that the military and pro-military government agencies disregard the rule of law when it seems to obstruct personal gains or advantage.

Yet, Prayut demands that the protestors to such illegal development must obey the rule of law. 

[Ulic]

Ridiculous to tear down almost complete well-built homes. Simply confiscate them, sell them, use

the proceeds to build housing for the poor or buy land to replace the land in the park that was lost

to this housing development. Perhaps there would be enough money to do both.

[isaanpaul]

I wonder why they did not protest at the moment they start building?

 

Isaanpaul

[Puwa]

On 8/9/2018 at 7:51 PM, smedly said:

These protests are nothing to do with conservation or national parks - it is to do with certain privileged people getting free luxury housing at the expense of the tax payer, not saying that either are not just causes - I believe they are, you've got to have questions as to why these people are getting free expensive housing paid for from public coffers  

The protests are about both abuse of power and conservation. All of the North's leading environmentalists are involved.

[rebo]

Don't forget: Tomorrow morning, 08:00, Thapae gate