Chiang Mai Residents To Fight Tall Buildings Despite Court Setback

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Chiang Mai residents to fight tall buildings despite court setback

By Ekkapong Praditpong

The Nation

CHIANG MAI

The Supreme Adminis-trative Court yesterday dismissed a Chiang Mai resident's appeal for a temporary injunction to suspend construction of a controversial condominium. The lawsuit is one of several filed by Chiang Mai residents against seven tall building proposed for the city.

Duanpen Rattanapraditkul, a resident in Tambon Chang Pheuk, asked the Chiang Mai Administrative Court to suspend the Imsuwan Mansion on the grounds it had not passed an environmental impact assessment and might affect nearby residents' health.

But judges in the Chiang Mai Administrative Court dismissed the injunction request, saying project managers were taking measures to control pollution and for damage compensation, which the court regarded as appropriate.

The Supreme Administrative Court yesterday ruled that the Chiang Mai Court's dismissal of the temporary injunction request was final, so the plaintiff's appeal was not legitimate and it would thus not proceed with the appeal.

Sanya Sukrasorn, an adviser to the conservationist Hak Chang Khien group, said although the appeal on injunction request was dismissed, they could still submit more facts and details for the court's consideration.

He said lawsuits filed by residents in the Chang Khien group asking the Chiang Mai Administrative Court to stop seven tall building projects - and revoke Tambon Chang Pheuk Municipality's orders allowing their construction - were still before the court.

He said these tall buildings would create environmental problems, affect people's health, ruin traditional community lifestyles and block views to the city's important symbolic landmark, Doi Suthep.

Nathee Theerarojanapong, another member of the group, said he accepted the court's ruling and would let the group's legal team work on remaining legal matters.

He said that with the Emergency Law lifted in Chiang Mai, they could now organise protests against the tall buildings, and may rally outside Chiang Mai City Hall, to try to get the provincial governor to tackle the problem.

-- The Nation 2010-08-18