Villagers Raze Chiang Mai Litter-dumping Truck

[george]

Villagers raze litter-dumping truck

CHIANG MAI: -- Villagers in Thailand's northern province of Chiang Mai who have had to put up with refuse being dumped near their homes last night took the matter into their own hands, setting fire to an 18-wheeled refuse truck.

Scenes of chaos erupted in Doi Tao district last night, as police and firefighters desperately tried to put out the blaze, started by villagers of Baan Nong Phak Bung who had reached the ends of their tethers.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Jirut Prommobon, commander of the provincial police force, admitted today that the police had not been able to make any arrests, but said that legal action would be taken once the perpetrators had been tracked down.

The Chiang Mai municipal authorities have vigorously denied any connection with the litter dumping, despite admitting that they had purchased 100 rai of land in Doi Tao district with the intention of using it as a rubbish dump.

Chiang Mai Mayor Boonlert Borranapakorn told reporters this morning that the municipal authorities had shelved plans to use the site due to local opposition, and that although the authorities had hired two private companies to help solve the city’s refuse problems, these companies were using their own landfill sites elsewhere.

The site is now being guarded by a heavy police presence to protect another three refuse trucks parked there.

Although the owners of the trucks have threatened legal action against the villagers, they have refused to disclose who has hired them to dump the rubbish.

The Chiang Mai authorities, which have received several complaints over their failure to deal with the city’s refuse, last year spent Bt800 million on steam incinerators from the United Kingdom, which are expected to help address the refuse problem once they are fully operative.

--TNA 2005-06-20

[chownah]

I can't post a comment here because it is against the rules to condone breaking the law.

[PeaceBlondie]

When laws are not enforced, some people resort to vigilante justice.

You can't legally enforce a gambling debt in Thailand because gambling's illegal. But some people resort to their own collection methods.

We are not condoning illegal activities. However, is it illegal for the authorities to knowingly, willingly refuse to enforce the laws?

[billd766]

While I feel sorry for the driver (and possibly the owner) of the vehicle I think that ALL illegal trash dumpers should have the trash dumped at their own house and be buried in it.

I am working in Pakistan and nobody cares about the trash they generate and they just dump it anywhere.

Thailand is a bit better but there are too many plastic bags and styrofoam containers which if you were to come back in 100 years would still be there.

Signed recycler