PM urges stringent punishment of forest arsonists

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The air pollution level this morning has been of concern in nine northern provinces due to active forest fires in the region. The Prime Minister has urged related officials to identify and take legal action against the arsonists responsible.

 

Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces are now severely affected by forest fire haze, while the situation has started to improve in other provinces in the lower northern region. It is expected that forecast thunderstorms in some areas will help mitigate the problem of haze and airborne particles.

 

The Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked villagers to refrain from burning branches, leaves, agricultural by-products, or setting fires in the forest according to the schedule released by each province.

 

Villagers are encouraged to be on alert and to inform local officials on any unauthorized burning, while local agencies must communicate with villagers about the consequences of forest burning.

 

The Prime Minister has ordered related agencies to trace and prosecute those responsible for forest fires, in order to set an example to the general public, while village-level personnel are now required to support the operations and monitor the situation, along with overhead drones which help identify hotspots, trace arsonists, and support firefighting operations in hard-to-reach areas.

 

Today’s data from the Pollution Control Department shows the overall air quality across the country varying between very good to unhealthy, with the PM 2.5 airborne dust level ranging from 7 to 273 micrograms per cubic meter.

 

Areas with unhealthy air quality are mainly in the northern region, especially Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, Phayao, and Tak. The highest airborne dust level today has been recorded at Mueang Khong subdistrict, Chiang Mai.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2020-04-06

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For a number of evenings now I see the skies north of Chiang Rai glowing red, following by a sickening smell of smoke. The next morning I have to sweep soot and burned leaves etc. from my terrace. AQI readings in the morning often not far from 300 and sometimes even much higher. 
it is the same every year, whatever ‘urging’ the government does. There is just no enforcement.

 

Thank goodness they are going to take action.

 

I feel much relieved, will sleep with the windows open tonight.

More BS lip service from the PM. Last year when Prayut visited Chiang Mai the daily AQI was unbearable he said that the problem would be fixed within 7 days, off course Sweet Fanny Adams was done. Here we are 1 year later and it's the same rinse/repeat rant. Talk is cheap, we need action here in Northern Thailand....

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Prime Minister has urged related officials

Urged? Shame he does'nt grow a pair and ORDER them! Is'nt that what Generals do?

Villagers are to inform of unauthorised burning,so they are going to report themselves,get real man.

Levels are WAY more than 273, and NEVER 7.

 

I can not understand this huge problem (sanitary emergency some say).

Thai people don't even like to talk about that. Maybe they feel they can do nothing against the farmers who are killing and injuring seriously so many people for years.

 

I read 2-3 years ago in Bangkok post i think, that more than 100.000 people are going hospital for that. Lungs, heart, eyes, sinus, etc. Would be necessary to have the real actual numbers. But not only it's very irritating, it kills, and it injured ! Thousands, every year.

 

Maybe gouvernement and army fear those farmers ? Seriously. 

 

Otherwise action need to be strong, after 10 years of doing nothing.

Satellites, drones, army. Set examples. Period. No autorisation all year. No fk fire !

Then diplomacy with Laos, Myanmar, China, Cambodia.

 

This very heavy problem makes those countries look like the most savages countries in the world. Animals would not be that stupid.

And no power in charge ? And no social reaction ?

 

Argument : this has a heavy impact on economy. 

A little bit late for April jokes, isnt it?

But it is ok, it is still a good one ????

It's about time the Government took this problem seriously, it's been going on for years and years,

it's not like a natural disaster ,when you dont know its going to happen,they know when it will occur

and the general location,to really stop it ,the burning by arsonists,they need to but boots on the ground,

have Police,Army,and any volunteers up in the hills ,camping out if necessary, have road blocks,curfews

so the local populations ,finally know its not going to be tolerated anymore.

Every year the burning has terrible consequences on people's health and businesses up here in the North,

now i hope the Government keeps its word and finally does something,it's a bit late as the fires have already

been burning now for weeks,people are having a difficulty breathing now,without been affected by the Covid

19 virus. not holding my breath (sorry for the pun), but I hope those in authority do something to tackle it NOW.

regards worgeordie

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The Prime Minister has urged related officials to identify and take legal action against the arsonists

he can urge as much as he wants. If he doesn't  send  an army of crucifiers to the mountains nothing will change, same  as all the years before..

2 hours ago, webfact said:

PM urges stringent punishment of forest arsonists

great example of the current state of thai leadership; stupid people =reactive , spouting BS, and likely not even understanding what 'pro-active' means; even tho the same problems, same people, same time of the year, same areas; and, yes, likely to get even worse year on year

Total respect for the fire fighters on the last pict.

 

Compared to the virus, with witch you have a chance to not have problem, this kind of méga-pollution is 100% sure to hurt. People, planet.

 

PM said last year "hm i want this problem to be fixed in 7 days". It looked not to smart of course... But actually, send army, and the problem would be fixed within a week or so. 

 

But by just talking of course zéro result, it's even worse.

 

I would be curious to know the ridiculous fines too that may be in the law for those major CRIMES...

 

And again total respect for the fire fighters on the last pict. I can hardly imagine more difficult mission, even in a war.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

PM urges stringent punishment of forest arsonists

Stop urging. Start shooting them!

every time they reprint this same old BS  i shake my head. 

For me and many others they have completely destroyed the dream

of living in what could be a beautiful place.  YEAR ROUND

4 hours ago, Forza2002 said:

More BS lip service from the PM. Last year when Prayut visited Chiang Mai the daily AQI was unbearable he said that the problem would be fixed within 7 days, off course Sweet Fanny Adams was done. Here we are 1 year later and it's the same rinse/repeat rant. Talk is cheap, we need action here in Northern Thailand....

Not just in Chiang Mai. In all the years I have lived here in Kanchanaburi it has never been a problem. This year last 4 months have been in the high 100's to early 200's. More worried about dying from that than Covid 19!!????????????????????????????????

I wish you would spend a few days in Chiangmai the air here is just terrible more talk more BSTIT

They need HELP. Not Punishment! 
Anyway, words are cheap here, unfortunately. 
And the majority of Thais in affected areas are suffering , apathetically . 
mai bon bon, khrap! Rain come soon. 

17 hours ago, webfact said:

The Prime Minister has urged related officials to identify and take legal action against the arsonists responsible.

Just tell the officials and the governor: one more fire and you're gone!

Is this an old article from 2017, 2018 or 2019?  I feel like I have heard this before Hmmmm?  Oh PM also they are burning the hell out of Kanchanaburi today.  100% under control like Corona!   

Big agro business likes it this way, that is why it is allowed to continue.

They always just ask and warn and urge and tell people (not) to do something. How about enforcing existing laws, rules and regulations for a change? 

The whole world shows dramatic declines in air pollution over the last few months, except northern Thailand, where the morons just refuse to stop burning. And those who can do - and should actually do - something about it do <deleted> all and just watch it happen, year after year after year. What a disgrace.

Just last night my wife said the burning had spread to the mountains behind the hospital here. Same week , same hospital last year. About 3 pm.

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No doubt the arsonists are all ears. Mission accomplished.  Congratulations.  Enough said. 

On 4/6/2020 at 9:01 PM, DPKANKAN said:

Not just in Chiang Mai. In all the years I have lived here in Kanchanaburi it has never been a problem. This year last 4 months have been in the high 100's to early 200's. More worried about dying from that than Covid 19!!????????????????????????????????

Anything under 200 is considered a ‘good’ day, in Chiang Rai.........????

Is it just the expats complaining about the bad air as I dont hear the Thai people SHOUTING from there roof tops complaining   or do they just shrug there shoulders and think cant do anything about it ?

"asked villagers to refrain", just a joke.

<cue sound of ruler hitting hands> Thwak Thwak Thwak

"Bad! Now make public apology.  Grovel. Pay ฿2000.  Now go. Bad!"

On 4/6/2020 at 3:25 PM, webfact said:

Villagers are encouraged to be on alert and to inform local officials on any unauthorized burning

Haa Haa haa haa haaaaa.  That's funny.  

All you people who will be out mushroom hunting in June.  Report arsonists!!!  
Haa Haa haa haa haaaaa.