Rally at City Hall for transparency on new green area

Call for public participation in city projects

The Chiang Mai Community Conservation group calls on the government for transparency and public participation in determining the usage of the space at the old Women’s Prison.

Nopniwat Krailerg

Around 20 people from the Chiang Mai Community Conservation group, led by Panngam Somna and Saowakon Sriboonruang, rallied at City Hall on February 5 to present a petition to Governor Tanin Subhasaen calling for a public meeting on the fate of the site of the old Women’s Prison inside the city. They asked for a meeting with the public for feedback on the proposed Kuang Wiang Kaew green space.

The group submitted a letter calling for a public forum hosted by the Chiang Mai Provincial office to brainstorm ideas and allow for public participation in the project, calling for full transparency into the project. Panngam Somna said that the decision on the area requires the participation of all sectors and that the group would like the government to oversee the project, they also said that they did not feel another Buddhist shrine there as the old city already has 38 temples.

The Mahanakorn Chiang Mai group also held a meeting on the proposed site at Buddha Satan on Sunday, February 17, 2013. The group is also calling for transparency and public participation in decisions.

Additionally the Chiang Mai Community Conservation group called on the Governor to check out shops, restaurants, pubs and karaoke bars in town to ensure that they are following all laws closely and are not allowing for excessive noise or underage drinking.

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In your dreams? Chiang Mai people have no say in what happens. All is controlled by Bangkok!