Wildlife Defender Who Arrested Tycoon Recognized For Bravery By UN

[webfact]

Wildlife Defender Who Arrested Tycoon Recognized For Bravery By UN

By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

 

A February 2018 photo file of Wichien Chinnawong in Kanchanaburi.

 

BANGKOK — The forest ranger, who tracked down and arrested a construction magnate suspected of poaching animals in a wildlife sanctuary earlier this year was awarded for his courage Thursday.

 

Wichien Chinnawong, chief ranger at the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, was among nine winners in Asia recognized for their work in preventing transnational environmental crimes by the United States Agency for International Development, Interpol and the Freeland Foundation.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/11/23/wildlife-defender-who-arrested-tycoon-recognized-for-bravery-by-un/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-11-23

[giddyup]

Seems the tycoon has escaped the net though, and his wife with the ivory.

[sammieuk1]

Well done and what about the worker who shoveled the scat sample from the jungle surely just as brave????

[SkyNets]

Shhhh this was fading away nicely

[neeray]

A story that seems to have gone as dead as the animals he shot.

[mikebell]

What a massive slap in the face for the Thai Justice department.  The story should be splashed across newspapers round the world; particularly those contributing tourists to the annual Thai death tally.

[webfact]

Thungyai sanctuary chief honored by UNEP for courage in high-profile hunting case

 

 

Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary chief Wichien Chinnawong has been honored with special commendation by the United Nations Environment Programme for his courage in arresting a group of wildlife hunters in the sanctuary in February this year.

 

Although the UNDP did not mention the names of the alleged hunters in its press release on Thursday, it was understood that the agency referred to the high-profile illegal hunting case in February this year in which Premchai Karnasuta, president of the Italian-Thai International Development Corp was among those arrested by a team of forest rangers led by Wichien.

 

The press release said Wichien’s small team of rangers encountered a group of hunters camping in the famous wildlife sanctuary and eating highly endangered animals.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thungyai-sanctuary-chief-honored-by-unep-for-courage-in-high-profile-hunting-case/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-11-23

[klauskunkel]

Srivara should bow to him!

[Eric Loh]

Meanwhile Premchai got the Poacher of the Year award. 

[yellowboat]

The lack of condemnation of this poorly mannered elitist from the junta is deafening.   Anyone who wishes to do the right thing in Thailand best be protected by the forces of fairness outside of Thailand. 

[zzaa09]

4 hours ago, mikebell said:

What a massive slap in the face for the Thai Justice department.  The story should be splashed across newspapers round the world; particularly those contributing tourists to the annual Thai death tally.

What might be more shameful and embarrassing is that such accolades originated from outsider associations, less any Thai extended kudos or support.

 

Tells ya everything one needs to know regarding these types of situations.

[Juan B Tong]

Not fade away!

 

Edited November 23, 2018 by Juan B Tong

[snoop1130]

Forestry official receives international commendation for 'black leopard' poaching case

By The Nation

 

 

A Thai forestry official has won a prestigious award from international organisations for his role in the “black leopard” poaching case.

 

Wichien Chinnawong, who is famous in Thailand for arresting well-known billionaire Premchai Karnasuta for alleged poaching at a wildlife sanctuary early this year, has received a special commendation from the United Nations, USAID, Interpol, and the Freeland Foundation. 

 

The organisations have honoured nine institutions and individuals across Asia this week for outstanding work in preventing transboundary environmental crime at an annual award ceremony in Bangkok.

 

The recipients of the honour came from Thailand, China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal and Vietnam.

 

Wichien is the only Thai to be honoured. 

 

“While the trial will determine the exact responsibilities of the alleged poachers, the determination and the integrity of Wichien and his team remain indisputable facts,” the award granter said earlier this week.

 

In February 2018, Wichien and his team found Premchai’s group in an unauthorised zone of Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary. Further checks found that there were weapons and animal carcasses, including that of a black leopard, near the group's camp. 

 

The case made headlines because Premchai ranks among the richest men in Thailand and controls one of the country’s biggest construction firms. 

 

Wichien’s team did not show any sign of intimidation when they found out who Premchai was. Instead, the team carried out their duties as enforcers of the law.

 

Premchai is facing several charges related to the case. 

 

Environmental crimes – which include illegal trade in wildlife, illicit trade in forests and forestry products, illegal dumping of waste including chemicals, smuggling of ozone depleting substances and illegal mining – are estimated to cost up to $258 billion (Bt8.5 trillion) per year. It is the fourth largest illegal crime after drug smuggling, counterfeiting and human trafficking.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30359174

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-23

[djayz]

A good story for a change. Good on him!

[mfd101]

A good guy who actually does his job properly. Hope he doesn't have an accident. Needs some protection on high, I should think.

[fakename]

Hate to sound like a broken record, but this guy needs to be sent after the RED BULL, 

[toenail]

Has the king recognized this forest ranger’s honesty and dedication to Thailand’s wildlife????

[CALSinCM]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Premchai is facing several charges related to the case. 

...but like in the Red Bull heir's case, authorities are waiting for the statues of limitations on the crime to lapse before pursuing the case.

[Burma Bill]

Well done, Sir, and congratulations for standing up against the Bangkok "elite" who think they are above the law.

[giddyup]

30 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Well done, Sir, and congratulations for standing up against the Bangkok "elite" who think they are above the law.

Not see the tycoon spend one day in jail yet.

[Burma Bill]

7 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Not see the tycoon spend one day in jail yet.

You are absolutely correct. When arrested he was granted bail of 150,000 baht - "peanuts" for the head of the Ital-Thai Corporation.

[canopy]

14 hours ago, toenail said:

Has the king recognized this forest ranger’s honesty and dedication to Thailand’s wildlife????

Sadly this ranger may not actually be dedicated to Thailand's wildlife. What he did in this case is commendable and deserves applause. However he has just about said point blank that he has a double standard and excuses the poor to hunt. Reference: here. He also admits the poor are the big problem. So his idea seems to be to protect the forests from the rich and give the poor a free pass. The forests should be protected equally without excusing any particular groups to ravage the place. Otherwise it's kind of pointless.

 

Edited November 24, 2018 by canopy