Villager in national park encroachment case ordered to pay Bt150,000 in 15 days

[webfact]

Villager in national park encroachment case ordered to pay Bt150,000 in 15 days

By Chularat Saengpassa

 

 

Another big blow has hit one of the 14 villagers convicted of encroaching on Chaiyaphum’s Saithong National Park – a court notice that she pay a large sum of compensation within 15 days.

 

All other convicts in a similar case, who strongly believe they are innocent, look set to also receive a notice ordering them to pay compensation.

 

Oranuch Pholpinyo, a member of the Network for Northeast Land Reform, revealed on Monday that the family of Srinuan Pasang, who is serving a five-month jail term, received the court notice that she must pay Bt150,000 in compensation to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) within 15 days since the receipt of the notice.

 

“After receiving the notice on Sunday, her family can’t help but feel that the order adds salt to their wounds,” Oranuch said.

 

She said Srinuan was in jail and cashless, and her family had no idea how they could raise such a big sum.

 

“She is still awaiting a final court ruling. I can’t understand why the court has issued such a notice. Convicted villagers don’t have assets that can be forfeited,” she pointed out. “These villagers really believe they have made legitimate use of the plots and have not encroached on national park land.”

 

Oranuch said Seenuan’s family continues to farm on the disputed plot in Chaiyaphum – the one the DNP insists is in the national park zone.

 

“They want to exert their right to the plot even after Srinuan was sent to jail for using it,” she said.

 

All 14 defendants in the encroachment of Saithong National Park have insisted that they simply worked on the farmland their families have occupied for generations. So their right to the plots were established long before the national park was founded in 1992.

 

Oranuch believes the 13 other defendants will receive similar court notices as they were all ordered to pay compensation by the Court of Appeals.

At present, her network has raised funds to help these defendants and their families.

 

“We pay each family between Bt3,000 and Bt5,000 a month to help them cope with their plight,” Oranuch said, adding that donations were welcome because these people were desperately in need of help.

 

According to Oranuch, many defendants were bread winners and their imprisonment has seriously affected their families.

 

“There’s an extended family in which four adult members have been jailed for encroachment,” she added.

 

Somnuk Tumsupap, a lawyer for the Northeast Land Reform Network, said he would file an injunction as the case had not yet got a final court verdict.

 

“We will also write to the DNP to ask why it is pushing so fast for the compensation,” he said, emphasising that the agency was not so swift in dealing with encroachment cases elsewhere.

 

Oranuch plans to petition the Supreme Court on behalf of all 14 defendants. The petition for one of the defendants, Nittaya Muangklang, has been accepted by the Supreme Court. Petitions for six other defendants have also been submitted but the court has not yet confirmed its acceptance.

“We will file petitions for seven other defendants in the Supreme Court by July 15,” she added.

 

The Supreme Court has the authority to decide whether to accept a petition or not. If it rejects the petition, the ruling by the Court of Appeals is final.

 

http://www.nationthailand.com/national/30370549

 

Source: http://www.nationthailand.com/news/30372585

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand  2019-07-09

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[onlycw]

Oh, ahh - was burning trees part of their 'farming' methods? 

[Odysseus123]

Very sad course of events.They always put in a bravura performance when picking off the little ones but are monumental damp squibs when pretending to go after the biggies...ie-their mates..

[LongTang]

Its really heart warming to see how the filthy rich elites are trying to find a solution for these poor farmers by helping them find alternative locations to make a living.... NOT ????????

[neeray]

This decision seems to be totally lacking in common sense.

Tradition in Thailand counts large.

Precedence seems to count for nothing (especially in this case).

 

I say live and let live. Get this charming lady out of jail and let her live out her life (the others too) peacefully.

[canuckamuck]

The encroachment is by the government. These folks have done nothing wrong. I hope it all blows up and these people get restitution. 

[chrisinth]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

All 14 defendants in the encroachment of Saithong National Park have insisted that they simply worked on the farmland their families have occupied for generations. So their right to the plots were established long before the national park was founded in 1992.

This makes you wonder doesn't it? If somebody is occupying the land before the national park is even established, is it OK for them to come and draw different lines in the dirt?

[Cadbury]

The junta encroached on the country and parliament house in 2014. When are they going to be slapped with a hefty fine and put in jail.

[MRToMRT]

Irrespective of the subject matter, as journalism its poor as it is not balanced in that only one side of the story is told. 

One could argue its opinion not journalism. There may be pertinent facts that are deliberately not shared.

 

Why does not the Nation print stories of the larger cases, involving the rich, and what seems to be a lack of action against them and the possible reasons for that? Because it does not fit The Nations editorial agenda?



 

[digger70]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

All 14 defendants in the encroachment of Saithong National Park have insisted that they simply worked on the farmland their families have occupied for generations. So their right to the plots were established long before the national park was founded in 1992.

They were simply using  and working the land , But it isn't Theirs to start It's the Governments Land. How long ago have the said people being told to get of the Government land before they have been taken to court? 

 

[xylophone]

5 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

Very sad course of events.They always put in a bravura performance when picking off the little ones but are monumental damp squibs when pretending to go after the biggies...ie-their mates..

You are absolutely right in what you say and I think it shameful the way that these people are being treated, not only because they are poor, but because there is one rule for the rich and one for the poor.

 

As an example, in my neck of the woods, there is a beach area which is public and should have no buildings on it, however it has a large restaurant/cafe built upon it, and beach-goers are charged an entry fee to get to the beach.

 

All this because the operator is well-connected, although it was ruled to be illegal and was ordered to be pulled down and left for public use; but it is still in operation.

 

Add to that the very large mansion type construction which is going on well above the height limits set for this area, and also encroaching upon National Park land. This has been reported to the authorities and they have put a hold on construction or its demolition subject to an appeal???

 

But what is there to appeal because it's well above the permitted building height and is also on National Park land, however this place must belong to someone well-connected to even consider an appeal and it really is a slap in the face to anyone who thinks that Thailand has an equal and enforceable rule of law for all.

 

Shameful.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

The encroachment is by the government. These folks have done nothing wrong. I hope it all blows up and these people get restitution. 

Two chances: Bob Hope & No Hope.... (Bob Hope left town)