Lawsuit In Preparation Against Night Safari In CM

[Jai Dee]

NGOS ARE FILING LAWSUIT TO COURT TO HALT THE OPENING OF CHIANG MAI NIGHT SAFARI

Non-governmental organizations and people affected by the Chiang Mai Night Safari project are preparing to file a lawsuit with the Administrative Court in an attempt to halt the opening of the night safari, saying that it was against constitution.

The group of people opposing the opening of the night safari yesterday gathered at Chiang Mai city hall to follow up on the progress of the Chiang Mai World, the grand scheme that would involve tampering with as much as 10,000 rai of land and 10 billion baht of investment. The opponents of the scheme were worried about environmental effects.

The group stated that it would ask the administrative court to halt the opening of Chiang Mai Night Safari, which is one of the projects under the Chiang Mai World scheme, as it had factors that were in conflict with the constitution.

Meanwhile Mr. PLODPRASOP SURASSAWADI (ปลอดประสพ สุรัสวดี), the assistant to the minister at the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, insisted that Chiang Mai Night Safari was wholly lega. He also said that effects on the environment have long been studied. Furthermore he asserted his confidence that the night safari would open on its scheduled date on January 1st.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 December 2005

[Jai Dee]

NIGHT SAFARI ADMINISTRATOR WILL FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST HIS CRITIC

Director of the Chiang Mai Night Safari PLODPRASOB SUATSAWASDI (ปลอดประสพ สุรัสวดี) will sue former director of zoo organization PISIT NA PATTALUNG (พิสิษฐ์ ณ พัทลุง), after he criticized his administration of the Night Safari.

Mr. PISIT earlier criticized the administration of the Chiang Mai night safari that no experts were brought in to manage the zoo, but Mr. PLODPRASOB said that the charge is fallacious. He said that many experts, such as former director of a zoo, director of the office of wild animals, the Department of National Park, veterinarians, and more than 80 specialists have come to help him in managing the zoo. He added that the people have responded well to the night safari, as more than 300,000 visitors have visited the park. He said that the recent survey showed that 95% of the respondents were pleased with the zoo administration. 88% believe that the zoo is suitable to serve educational purpose, while 92% were impressed with its setting. 99% of the people were pleased with beautiful scenery at the zoo. Mr. PLODPRASOB said that the statistics will be submitted to Prime Minister THAKSIN SHINAWATRA.

He insisted that he will file a lawsuit against Mr. PISIT for making such accusation, adding that the lawsuit will be filed in three provinces, which are Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่), Narathiwat (นราธิวาส), and Nakhon Phanom (นครพนม).

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 December 2005