Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

A Thai Senate committee has launched an investigation into allegations that Chinese investors, with the backing of corrupt local officials, have illegally cleared nearly 2,000 rai of protected forest in Chanthaburi province to establish large-scale durian plantations.

 

On 7 February, Senator Cheewapap Cheewatham, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment, along with other key officials and forestry officers, conducted an on-site inspection following complaints from local residents. The investigation revealed extensive deforestation in Makham district, where land had been cleared and excavated on a significant scale.

 

According to Cheewapap, complaints regarding illegal land seizures had been received since late 2024. The Royal Forest Department’s Phaya Khrai task force discovered widespread encroachment in several areas, with some perpetrators claiming to possess land rights documents. These claims are now under review to determine their validity.

 

Authorities have already prosecuted several cases, including two major incidents:

 

• On 26 December 2024, officials seized 105 rai in Khun Song National Forest in Kaeng Hang Maeo district. The land had been cleared, ponds dug, and protected trees cut down, suggesting preparation for durian farming. The environmental damage was valued at 5.9 million baht.

 

• On 28 January 2025, authorities seized nearly 1,850 rai spanning Khun Song, Janta Pae, and Khao Wang Chaeng National Forests in Kaeng Hang Maeo and Khao Khitchakut districts. This land, also suspected of being converted into durian plantations, was allegedly linked to Chinese investors and Thai business partners.

 

The investigation has uncovered links between the land seizures and local politicians, former government officials, and both domestic and foreign investors. Furthermore, there are allegations of involvement from police officers in the area.

 

The Senate Committee on Justice and Law will now oversee legal proceedings to ensure all those responsible, including any state officials complicit in the scheme, are held accountable. Authorities have vowed to prevent further destruction of protected forests and prosecute those behind the illegal durian plantations.

 

The investigation remains ongoing.

 

-- 2025-02-09

 

 

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The Senate Committee on Justice and Law will now oversee legal proceedings to ensure all those responsible, including any state officials complicit in the scheme, are held accountable.

This will be a first for officials being accountable, once again Chinese money causing problems in Thailand.

2 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

This will be a first for officials being accountable, once again Chinese money causing problems in Thailand  throughout the world

 

On 2/8/2025 at 10:35 PM, Geoffggi said:

This will be a first for officials being accountable, once again Chinese money causing problems in Thailand.

 

Close the borders, confiscate the durians and sell them in Thailand oh and send the corrupt thais in jail.

Japan knows how to deal with chinese tourists, they dont give them an inch. Thailand just lays down and takes it. Only the young generation of thais are aware of how big of a problem the chinese are because of social media, they just cant do anything about it

My grandpa aways used to say, "dem chinese are only good for laundry"......

On 2/9/2025 at 3:18 AM, Georgealbert said:

The investigation has uncovered links between the land seizures and local politicians, former government officials, and both domestic and foreign investors. Furthermore, there are allegations of involvement from police officers in the area

Who'd have thought Chinese buying off corrupt officials

Notice illegal buildings and land clearing are always completed before objections are raised. 

Here 2000 rai of forest land that required heavy noisy machines and transport to clear a forest that size before the authorities are prodded into some form of investigation. 

OddsOn Thai nominees involved in this Chineese land grab. 

Deforestation is a protected occupation reserved for Thais only.

Chinese Investors Accused of Deforesting Thai National Park for Durian Plantations 

 

Why Blame the Chinese? 

If the Thai Government Officials Weren't  Corrupt Crooks and overly Greedy than the Chinese would've had to turn Back and  wouldn't  had the  chance to  BUY the Illegal Land and Cleared that  from trees. 

No matter where one looks there's  Corruption.

People will always Try, They Know how bad  the corruption  is here  and will find someone somewhere   to  Illegally Deal with.

2,000 Rai cleared without any body noticing ? Heads should roll!!

With the advent of Google Earth (and Yandex satellite imagery and others), I'm amazed that the Land Offices can't see these developments long before they get to 2000 rai.  Not to mention entire compounds of illegal villas.  Unless they don't want to see...

 

8 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

My grandpa aways used to say, "dem chinese are only good for laundry"......

 

 

Thanks, very much so, good at laundering money!

Arrest them, have them replant the cleared area by hand and then throw them in prison for 10 years! 

On 2/10/2025 at 6:39 AM, flyingtlger said:

My grandpa aways used to say, "dem chinese are only good for laundry"......

 

In old time, that was one of the traditional trades among Chinese migrants(anywhere in the world they settle).

 

Diners, barbers(some instantly convertible to brothel), and laundry shops.

A bit of change, what to wash up in recent decades...