Neighbor, Non- Stop Chain Saw And Illegal Logging?

[TigerWan]

Can a neighbor on our residential street use an industrial sized chainsaw for over a week to cut up an enormous tree?

Two (or three, maybe? ) years ago, had huge tree in segments delivered at at 2 AM. Real inconsiderate jerk. Took about 8 days nonstop w a large chainsaw to turn it into lumber.

An excruciatingly loud chainsaw, the real big industrial size that need a license and permit. They ignored my complaints and plea to stop.

Some was hauled off, some went into the home under construction.

Ok, so about two weeks ago, in daylight this time, dump trucks deposited about twice the amount of raw timber HUGE , ten or so 3 meter long sections about 3 foot diameter. Un f'ing believable.

( And….AND… WHOOPS it turns out, happens to be the same type and size as reported in an illegal timber operation in The Phuket News on May 15, p. 2 )

Two days ago, on Friday, several men I'd never seen before spent the day readying the area with sun shade and late in the day, began cutting.

I went 15 meters down the lane and asked them to stop. If not, I told them I would file a complaint with police with the expectation of absolutely nothing happening. They continued to cut for about an hour and stopped near sunset.

Today, surprisingly they came with a cable truck and moved the timber. Then the owner of the home, whom I don't know nor have really ever seen, just as a visiting truck blocking the lane as often the home is empty or a string of renters seem to reside there- threatened me with a slicing of the neck gesture.

Seems the tree is illegal ? Whoops. So if they had just ignored me, they would have gotten away with it as I really didn't think I had any recourse and no probably really wouldn' have wasted time reported it.

I've really had it with the whole Thai mentality. I'm going to see this is really a needed and welcome catalyst to go ahead and make the move out of LoS.

[meom]

Live and let live.

One of the things I like about Thailand is that you basically can do what you want to do.

Sometimes it works against you and that's where the live and let live comes in.

[TigerWan]

^ I f that chainsaw were running for a week next to your house you might have something different to say? It is beyond inconsiderate and illegal harvesting of a protected tree ( allegedly ) is really very serious.

I'm sick of 2 AM karaoke and danger fireworks constantly and the burning of garbage but only when the wind is coming my way, not theirs.

No I don't see where Thais get the rep for being ..nice. Instead I .. well the words are too strong for this forum.

[meom]

^

You mean to say you don't burn your garbage?

A bit of fire together with a couple of beers makes for a great morning.

Each to their own I guess.

[ozzieovaseas]

^

You mean to say you don't burn your garbage?

A bit of fire together with a couple of beers makes for a great morning.

Each to their own I guess.

and even better if you've got a few empty cans to throw in the fire eh meom?

hair spray or fly spray work a treat

[TigerWan]

It's the burning plastic garbage I find most objectionable. That and the disconnect between action and consequence.

[Richard4849]

When you find a country where all neighbors are considerate of each other, be sure to drop us a line and let us know where it is.

[KarenBravo]

When you find a country where all neighbors are considerate of each other, be sure to drop us a line and let us know where it is.

Eversley Cresent, Isleworth, Middlesex, England.

[Richard4849]

When you find a country where all neighbors are considerate of each other, be sure to drop us a line and let us know where it is.

Eversley Cresent, Isleworth, Middlesex, England.

Is that a country?

[KarenBravo]

When you find a country where all neighbors are considerate of each other, be sure to drop us a line and let us know where it is.

Eversley Cresent, Isleworth, Middlesex, England.

Is that a country?

Are you going to live on every street in a country?

[Richard4849]

Well, the original poster seems to think that rude neighbors on his street mean rude neighbors nationwide -- so why not?

[TigerWan]

Well, the original poster seems to think that rude neighbors on his street mean rude neighbors nationwide -- so why not?

I'm sure every street has rude neighbors all over the world. This thread is in a Thailand forum about a specific rude and threatening neighbor in a land of people I find .... [censor censor ]..much less than gracious as advertised. IMO I'm sure in my home country I would feel confident reporting the blatant threat whereas here, it is pointless.

So any info on laws and chain saws in residential neighborhoods running for weeks on end?

[IanForbes]

I fully understand the OP's complaint. Unfortunately, what he fails to comprehend is this is Thailand where just about anything goes if you have political clout. Police can be paid to turn a blind eye when it comes to breaking residential laws (if there even are any). It happens everywhere in Thailand. It is also one of the reasons why foreigners complain on this forum so often. The complaints are legitimate, but it's all part and parcel of living in Thailand. In western societies we've paid for our protective laws and regulations by loss of many freedoms. You don't get one without the other. Western societies have become "Nanny states" where everyone is wet-nursed from cradle to grave.

There is no sense in complaining to a local Thai when that person wants to do anything... whether or not it bothers anyone else. As a foreigner you will just be ignored or even become the victim of further injustices. About all you can do is make a report to authorities when it first happens and leave it up to them. After that your hands are tied. Of course, if it is REALLY bad you can always resort to sabotage, but then you are asking for a reprisal.

[Richard4849]

Do the neighbors actually have some political clout, or are you imagining things. They just sound like a bunch of rednecks to me.

[redsquare]

When you find a country where all neighbors are considerate of each other, be sure to drop us a line and let us know where it is.

Eversley Cresent, Isleworth, Middlesex, England.

Just checked. The street is full not a vacant house to be had. All snapped up by returnees from Thailand.

[RogueExpat]

I'de be a little careful with making threats here. If these guys are, as you say, cutting up protected species in broad daylight, they will no doubt have been given a wink and nod by someone very seniour in the conservation and forestry department. (grom-ba-mai).

Some of these guys have a reputation as some of the most dubious officials in the country. Standing joke is that they are responsible for more natural forest dis-appearing than all other illegal encroachers put together....

That said, getting between a powerful man in this country, and his meal ticket is definately not a good idea. Quite often these types of officials do not think rationally, and make decisions based on ego.

[Richard4849]

Seems like a lot of assumptions are being made here -- ie...that the timber is illegal, and that the people don't have a license to use a chainsaw (it's not difficult to get one).

That needs to be sorted out before anything else.

[podgey]

I think that anyone who becomes so frustrated by living in Thailand that they consider migration as the only solution, than I would agree that a move would be better for everyone.

I think every expat has his own way of coping with cultural differences. I find a trip back to my original country clears my head and I am reminded of me why I live in Thailand.

[JusMe]

One of the things I like about Thailand is that you basically can do what you want to do.

Well, that's only partially true, depending on who "you" might be.

If you're Thai, it's true; if you're a falang, it's not.

As Ian said: "just about anything goes if you have political clout. ... There is no sense in complaining to a local Thai when that person wants to do anything... whether or not it bothers anyone else. As a foreigner you will just be ignored or even become the victim of further injustices."

[steelepulse]

Why not contact the forestry minister/department? They don't like illegal logging of trees.

[Richard4849]

Well, that's only partially true, depending on who "you" might be.

If you're Thai, it's true; if you're a falang, it's not.

If only if it were that simple.

But it's not.

Not all Thais can do whatever they want. There is a pecking order. Do you really think that Somchai down the street can do as much as the owner of CP Group can do, without impunity?

Some for farangs. There is a pecking order. If you are Joe singlet-and-a-Singha walking down the street with your belly out, you can't do as much as Bill Heinecke without impunity.

Pecking order applies equally to Thais as to farangs. Thais understand their place in the order; many farangs do not -- which leads to problems.

[phutoie2]

Thais understand their place in the order; many farangs do not -- which leads to problems.

Tosh, The English have always known their place, since Magna Carta (1215)

[krading]

Reminds me when we bought a block of land in the village.

The lady who sold it to us told us that a large tree in the middle had been promised to the monks for use in building a Wat sometime in the future.

Guess who the lucky one was who 'allowed' to pay for the chainsaw guy when they cut it up.

At least I got a share of the monks blessing for my 1200 bht.

[OZEMADE]

When you find a country where all neighbors are considerate of each other, be sure to drop us a line and let us know where it is.

Nullabor Plains Australia, closest neighbour 500 miles away and no chain saws. "O" thats right NO trees.

[IanForbes]

British Columbia, the land of giant trees, also has its problems with people with chain saws...

I'm trying to hold on to the few remaining trees like this one. There are very few like this left standing.

[TigerWan]

Well, that's only partially true, depending on who "you" might be.

If you're Thai, it's true; if you're a falang, it's not.

If only if it were that simple.

But it's not.

Not all Thais can do whatever they want. There is a pecking order. Do you really think that Somchai down the street can do as much as the owner of CP Group can do, without impunity?

Some for farangs. There is a pecking order. If you are Joe singlet-and-a-Singha walking down the street with your belly out, you can't do as much as Bill Heinecke without impunity.

Pecking order applies equally to Thais as to farangs. Thais understand their place in the order; many farangs do not -- which leads to problems.

Is there anything that anyone can say that you don't find some fault with? That for which you don't have some additional shred of info? That you don't feel obligated to dissect and criticize?

I agree, proselytizing tone.

Caste system is a detrimental and another sour note I'd forgotten about,but having dealt with a neighbor of late, whom I guess thinks I'm kee nok- isn't winning me over either.

[TigerWan]

[quote name='IanForbes' timestamp='1307342129' post='4472029'

I'm trying to hold on to the few remaining trees like this one. There are very few like this left standing.

Wow Thanks Uncle , Are you Ian from The Nation Blog?

I just loved the Sequoias in Ca. Truly great beings.

[Lite Beer]

Inflammatory Off Topic posts deleted.

[meom]

One of the things I like about Thailand is that you basically can do what you want to do.

Well, that's only partially true, depending on who "you" might be.

If you're Thai, it's true; if you're a falang, it's not.

As Ian said: "just about anything goes if you have political clout. ... There is no sense in complaining to a local Thai when that person wants to do anything... whether or not it bothers anyone else. As a foreigner you will just be ignored or even become the victim of further injustices."

Maybe my experiences differ but I feel as a Farang it's way easier to "beat the system" in Thailand then it would be back home in Farangland.

For example try settle a traffic violation on the spot in your home country or any violation for that matter or try painting your house purple etc. etc.

I feel in Thailand it's much easier to get around a lot of red tape that you would encounter back in your home country.

[Richard4849]

One of the things I like about Thailand is that you basically can do what you want to do.

Well, that's only partially true, depending on who "you" might be.

If you're Thai, it's true; if you're a falang, it's not.

As Ian said: "just about anything goes if you have political clout. ... There is no sense in complaining to a local Thai when that person wants to do anything... whether or not it bothers anyone else. As a foreigner you will just be ignored or even become the victim of further injustices."

Maybe my experiences differ but I feel as a Farang it's way easier to "beat the system" in Thailand then it would be back home in Farangland.

For example try settle a traffic violation on the spot in your home country or any violation for that matter or try painting your house purple etc. etc.

I feel in Thailand it's much easier to get around a lot of red tape that you would encounter back in your home country.

Exactly...that's why I question farangs who bitch about "corruption" in Thailand -- when it actually allows them to enjoy things that would otherwise be stamped out, and to expedite other certain matters and make them more convenient. It mostly works FOR us.