Environment minister speaks up for marine life against selfie taking foreign divers

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's minister of natural resources and the environment wants the full force of the law to be taken against people who tamper with marine creatures. 

 

Varawut Silpa-Archa said that people have a right to apply for justice but marine life does not have a voice. He said it is up to people to stand up for them otherwise they won't be present in Thai waters anymore.

 

Varawut was speaking as the case against two divers in Koh Phangan dragged on. 

 

Back at the end of August Attila Ott, a Hungarian videographer and diver, and Francesco Simonetti, an Italian diver, took selfies disturbing sea creatures off Koh Phangan. Thai media reported they poked at slumbering fish to rouse them.

 

Immigration arrested both men on September 1st and removed their right to stay in Thailand. 

 

After they were both fined 10,000 baht and in mid September they were taken to immigration detention in Bangkok. 

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Attila confirmed shortly after to Thaivisa that he had left Thailand where he had been resident with a Thai wife for seven years. 

 

But Francesco has fought on, posting 50,000 baht bail. He has appealed his deportation order and an immigration committee is considering his appeal. 

 

But the Italian is friendless in high places. Indeed it was as a direct result of ministerial action that both men found themselves in so much trouble in the first place. 

 

Minister Varawut took exception to their antics at the time and demanded action. Now as the Italian's appeal drags on he has called for an appropriate and just result according to the law. 

 

In the minister's mind that appears to be deportation after his defence of marine life comments. 

 

Critics of the Thai reaction in the case said that though the men were stupid in their actions, endangered species were not affected only things like ubiquitous sea slugs and the Thai reaction was over the top.

 

Some also claimed online that it was one rule for the Thais and one for foreigners. 

 

The governor of Surat Thani province Wichawut Jinto has called for the case to be speeded up as it is an important environmental matter. 

 

While Sophon Thongdee of the department of marine and coastal resources has defended their handling of the case.

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-12-15

 

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Deportation seems heavy handed. I would have thought a fine would suffice,

although I recall some other concerns mentioned on their visa status.

 

I write this surveying the horrendous Bangkok smog this morning.

Will the minister for the environment be doing anything about that ?
Or is it less effort just to pick on the soft targets ?

For context, Mr. Silpa-Archa is the son of former Thai PM and construction billionaire Banharn 'slippery eel' Silpa-Archa.

 

Not defending his actions, but as the foreigner is an expat and had been married for seven years to a Thai, the deportation order does seem a little draconian. 

 

I guess another warning that as foreigners, we're all only temporarily here. 

Damn foreigners! We want their money but we don't want them! How can do?

What does Varawut do with Thai fishermen who drag nets all over, or dispose of trash in the sea?  Doesn't that disrupt wildlife more than tickling a few critters for a photo-op?

49 minutes ago, webfact said:

Some also claimed online that it was one rule for the Thais and one for foreigners. 

 

Did they now?! It's also been said they make up the rules as they need to.  

But killing black panda for a soup, wild elephants for tusks or bearcat/binturong by state officials in kanchanaburi in a killing spree - they are never mentioned in press conferences by a minister clad in yellow shirt. 
What about 100k burmese slaves working (and murdered yearly by hundreds) on thai boats, overfishing  costal waters? Yes, their „employers” are mafia companies closely connected to yellow junta. 
Or what about MP Pareena’s chicken farm encroaching thousands of rai into enviromentally protected areas?

Or cutting trees on Doi Inthanon for a mooban for state officials?

Xenophobia from state apparatus is abvious. 

Wonder as the 'environment guy' he could do something about air quality?

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's minister of natural resources and the environment wants the full force of the law to be taken against people... 

 

..who made a selfie with a sea cucumber, says Varawut Silpa-Archa as a represantative and minister of environment of a country which is one of the worlds biggest contaminators of the oceans!

 

 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

... endangered species were not affected only things like ubiquitous sea slugs and the Thai reaction was over the top.

 

Some also claimed online that it was one rule for the Thais and one for foreigners. 

 

Exactly this is what's going on here. This ridiculous "minister of natural resources" should start his work somewhere where it is really useful for the environment, instead of having a w4nk while relishing his sadistic xenophobia.

 

 

Edited December 15, 20205 yr by Flying Saucage

This really is idiotic. Picking up a starfish or other marine inhabitants bar coral, does no harm. Scientists have to do this when they survey reefs, the creatures are in no danger and do not suffer.

 

This guy probably just wants his photo in the paper

2 hours ago, sungod said:

Wonder as the 'environment guy' he could do something about air quality?

Hm,...That would be working (really doing something) instead of talking nonsense to journalists from a comfy chair !!!,...T.I.T.

it's this attitude of 'I can do what I want" that has turned the west into a giant petri dish, hopefully others will realize this isn't 'their' country and that there are consequences for flaunting regulations..

Hm,..While doing a diving course on Koh Chang some years ago. I saw Thai tourist boats drop there anchors on beautiful coral every day, and tourists walk on corals as well !!!,....there was no environment minister around then !!!

Does Mr. Varawut want to see my Catalogue of offenders that have been dumping Trash and Trash Burners in my Location ?

It is open for his Inspection, and their are some real Rogues among them

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Environment minister speaks up for marine life against selfie taking foreign divers

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's minister of natural resources and the environment wants the full force of the law to be taken against people who tamper with marine creatures.

... snip ...

Source: Thai Rath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-12-15

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

I am totally disgusted at this venomous xenophobic statements. Just look at the picture, it oozes an abhor for all western foreigners. Is he by any chance one of the ai Anutin cohorts?

 

He should start his actions against all the Thai fishermen, that rake the sea bottom with their nets, Chinese style. Picking everything that is, or isn't worth eating. and then throw all their garbage overboard.

 

I have been diving for over 30 years, picked up sea slugs and throw them up in the water just to take pictures before depositing them where I found them. Or let the Crinoids (like the one in the photo) walk on my arms before putting them back again. Wrestled with the octopuses and feeding sausage to Moray eels. Hitched a ride on Manta rays, and leading a school of Barracudas. All in all non-turist spots. I think a bit of interactions with the sea creatures is healthy for understanding of the ocean environment. I would bet that this minister has never been underwater, and is just contributing to the global warming opening his mouth.

 

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Environment minister speaks up for marine life against selfie taking foreign divers

 

Not to mention selfie taking Thai divers. Hub of selfie?  ????

This story does reflect badly on Thailand as these two guys neither had no intention to do any harm to wildlife, nor did they. There were obvious intent from the beginning to criminalize and making an example out of them because they were foreigners. 

Quote

Varawut Silpa-Archa said that people have a right to apply for justice but marine life does not have a voice. He said it is up to people to stand up for them otherwise they won't be present in Thai waters anymore.

 

Yes clamp down on those silly selfies....

Meanwhile continue dumping raw sewage into ocean in Phuket & Pattaya no prob right?

Edited December 15, 20205 yr by meechai

Varawut looks like a mean, petty little mo-fo.  40+ years ago when I was a Peace Corp Volunteer, I had a Thai boss at the Dept. of Land Development who was a complete jerk.  Did virtually nothing, let his brother-in-law live for a time in the government housing.  He even seriously threatened to kill one of the lowly workers, though I don't know exactly why.  This guy cashiered my chance of re-upping at another location because I didn't kiss his butt.  He also didn't like the fact that I married a Thai born gal of Vietnamese ancestry. 

Environment Minister's selfie....

 

 

What a pity this minister does not really take due interest in cleaning up the marine environment and punishing "Thais" who are mostly responsible for the appalling state of Thailand's coastline , beaches, rivers and seas .

The Klong here at Na Jomtien used to be one of beauty and attractive when the Yacht Club and luxury properties were built , but now look at it ! It has has become a dumping ground for disposing of wrecks / abandoned marine craft ,  full of polluted water but still ,luckily , has some marine wildlife .  Astoundingly they applied to build a waster water treatment plant right on on our doorstep ( so far didn't get approved by EEA or residents )  . Harbour Masters bear responsibility for their local waters .   

Im not a diver but I bet most divers have picked something up off the bottom of the ocean in their time

Meanwhile how's the garbage disposal going in Samui? 

On 12/15/2020 at 8:11 AM, webfact said:

it is an important environmental matter. 

It is, almost as important as all the rubbish, straws, plastic bags, bottles, styrofoam containers, etc. being dumped daily on streets, in waterways and the sea by the locals. We can argue a long time about why that is; is it because there aren't enough rubbish bins placed on the streets or is it because Somchai doesn't give a rat's <deleted> about the environment. 

I must admit I am surprised that Thailand actually has a Minister for the Environment.

One more nail in Lielands tourism coffin.

Combined with the trip adviser over reaction debacle, they are pushing large numbers of repeat and prospective tourists away from the center of the universe.

Well done yet again

 

 

It happened a few times, on longer dives, that I peed in the water. Khun minister, does this qualify me for deportation, and separation from my wife and kids? Or should I have taken a selfie?