Famous Baan Pa Ngam Mountain Lodge to be demolished after losing all court cases



PRACHINBURI: -- The chief of the Tab Larn national park is proposing the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to demolish the 125-rai Baan Pa Ngam mountain lodge illegally built in the national park after the resort lost all legal battles in its decade-long defence.

National park chief Thewin Meesap disclosed of his proposal to demolish the hundred million baht mountain resort property built atop the most beautiful landscape of the park in Nadee district of Prachinburi after the Supreme Court has notified the park of its ruling to drop the appeal of the property owners Mr Sakda Pipobsirirat and Mrs Pranee Praneewutikanakorn.

Both owner and co-owner were earlier in 2001 arrested for building the mountain lodge encroaching on the national park.

The Court of First Instance sentenced the duo to one year suspended prison term and a fine of 75,000 baht each. Both were also ordered to evict all the resort employees from the park.

The park chief said both appealed and the Appeals Court upheld the first court’s ruling.

They appealed again to the Supreme Court which finally dropped their appeal.

They finally petitioned the Central Administrative Court for protection of their property which comprises more than 20 buildings inside the park against forced demolition. However their petition was also rejected by the Administrative Court, he said.

As the resort owners have lost legal defences in all courts, the park chief said he would propose the department to demolish Baan Pa Ngam Mountain Lodge so as to keep to the same standard as the demolition of Baan Talae Mok resort and other properties illegally built inside national parks and forest reserves across the country.

Baan Pa Ngam Mountain Lodge is located on a hill on Highway 304 from Kabinburi to Nakhon Ratchasima.

It is well known as a place for young couples to hold wedding parties. It also provides adventurous marriage registration by allowing the couples to hang on ropes from the cliff.

The park chief said the department has filed more than 400 cases against owners of properties encroached and built inside national parks during the past three years.

He asked for cooperation from the people and even government agencies not to book rooms or use services of properties which were ordered closed but still defy orders and continue to operate as they might support wrongdoers.

If they were uncertain of which property illegally built and provide services in parks, they could ask for information from his park or the department anytime, he said.

(photo : https://www.facebook.com/baanpangam)

Source: Daily News

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/famous-baan-pa-ngam-mountain-lodge-demolished-losing-court-cases/


-- Thai PBS 2014-06-03

Well done, something positive

"The park chief said the department has filed more than 400 cases against owners of properties encroached and built inside national parks during the past three years."

The past three years were a wild wild west in many ways. Things are changing for the better now.

13 years and finally a sucess for the people of Thailand to retain this part of their national park........

Justice is slow, but, in some cases completely worthwhile.

The park beat the cheating big money owners.....

"The park chief said the department has filed more than 400 cases against owners of properties encroached and built inside national parks during the past three years."

The past three years were a wild wild west in many ways. Things are changing for the better now.

They've filed 400 cases in the last three years, you interpret that as a sign of the failings of PT's regime, but you have no idea whether filing this many cases is out of the ordinary. Or do you? Can you tell us how many cases they've filed in the last six years? Just so we can get a sense of whether the number given for the last three years is out of the ordinary. Also, for all we know, they might've actually filed more cases in the last three years as they were able to do their jobs properly where they were being blocked before. I don't think this is likely, but we can't know for sure by just looking at the figures alone.

Anyway, if the past is anything to go by, it suggests we've no reason to think military leaders would be any better than politicians on this score. Recall the Surayud fiasco.

"The park chief said the department has filed more than 400 cases against owners of properties encroached and built inside national parks during the past three years."

The past three years were a wild wild west in many ways. Things are changing for the better now.

They've filed 400 cases in the last three years, you interpret that as a sign of the failings of PT's regime, but you have no idea whether filing this many cases is out of the ordinary. Or do you? Can you tell us how many cases they've filed in the last six years? Just so we can get a sense of whether the number given for the last three years is out of the ordinary. Also, for all we know, they might've actually filed more cases in the last three years as they were able to do their jobs properly where they were being blocked before. I don't think this is likely, but we can't know for sure by just looking at the figures alone.

Anyway, if the past is anything to go by, it suggests we've no reason to think military leaders would be any better than politicians on this score. Recall the Surayud fiasco.

..."you interpret that as a sign of the failings of PT's regime"...

Where did I "interpret" that? Please don't be paranoid.

"The park chief said the department has filed more than 400 cases against owners of properties encroached and built inside national parks during the past three years."

The past three years were a wild wild west in many ways. Things are changing for the better now.

They've filed 400 cases in the last three years, you interpret that as a sign of the failings of PT's regime, but you have no idea whether filing this many cases is out of the ordinary. Or do you? Can you tell us how many cases they've filed in the last six years? Just so we can get a sense of whether the number given for the last three years is out of the ordinary. Also, for all we know, they might've actually filed more cases in the last three years as they were able to do their jobs properly where they were being blocked before. I don't think this is likely, but we can't know for sure by just looking at the figures alone.

Anyway, if the past is anything to go by, it suggests we've no reason to think military leaders would be any better than politicians on this score. Recall the Surayud fiasco.

Never mind your lucid reasoning. Anti-Thaksinistas and gong-ho Suthepistas will rather lambast a criminal like Thaksin and glorify a crooked Sontam republic politico such as Suthep who has a proven checkered past of malfeasance, nepotism and corruption.

Such is the nature of emotional, puerile fanaticism.

The real question is how do you build something that big in a nation forest, without the authorities scrutiny.

"The park chief said the department has filed more than 400 cases against owners of properties encroached and built inside national parks during the past three years."

The past three years were a wild wild west in many ways. Things are changing for the better now.

They've filed 400 cases in the last three years, you interpret that as a sign of the failings of PT's regime, but you have no idea whether filing this many cases is out of the ordinary. Or do you? Can you tell us how many cases they've filed in the last six years? Just so we can get a sense of whether the number given for the last three years is out of the ordinary. Also, for all we know, they might've actually filed more cases in the last three years as they were able to do their jobs properly where they were being blocked before. I don't think this is likely, but we can't know for sure by just looking at the figures alone.

Anyway, if the past is anything to go by, it suggests we've no reason to think military leaders would be any better than politicians on this score. Recall the Surayud fiasco.

That's why they're already doing a helluva lot more and a helluva lot better in a matter of weeks than PTP did in 3 destructive, inept, years of extortion.

Wow, one so-called fiasco. Now, for PTP, we could write 100 volumes.

What I don't understand is -- why not confiscate it, maintain it, and send the revenue to the Ministry?

What I don't understand is -- why not confiscate it, maintain it, and send the revenue to the Ministry?

Unfortunately the department have already demolished similar but smaller resorts so they are trying to show continuity.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

"The park chief said the department has filed more than 400 cases against owners of properties encroached and built inside national parks during the past three years."

The past three years were a wild wild west in many ways. Things are changing for the better now.

They've filed 400 cases in the last three years, you interpret that as a sign of the failings of PT's regime, but you have no idea whether filing this many cases is out of the ordinary. Or do you? Can you tell us how many cases they've filed in the last six years? Just so we can get a sense of whether the number given for the last three years is out of the ordinary. Also, for all we know, they might've actually filed more cases in the last three years as they were able to do their jobs properly where they were being blocked before. I don't think this is likely, but we can't know for sure by just looking at the figures alone.

Anyway, if the past is anything to go by, it suggests we've no reason to think military leaders would be any better than politicians on this score. Recall the Surayud fiasco.

Wasn't Surayuds house in the same park demolished a couple years ago too?

The real question is how do you build something that big in a nation forest, without the authorities scrutiny.

Uh, most likely with lots and lots of tea money put into the right hands.

Prayuth thinks. Prayuth does.

No inactive posts on his watch.

Prayuth thinks. Prayuth does.

No inactive posts on his watch.

Good, if it's broken - fix it, don't pussy-foot and piss around - just get it done - NOW.

now to make the two owners pay for the demolition and re-forest the area they used along with a huge fine for all the sh*t they caused by appealing every decision, make them into poor people and see how they like it.

What I don't understand is -- why not confiscate it, maintain it, and send the revenue to the Ministry?

Unfortunately the department have already demolished similar but smaller resorts so they are trying to show continuity.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yes else they end up with loads of these resorts things or they might have to pay for the buildings and it is seen as favoritism.

But you make a real good point.

13 years and finally a sucess for the people of Thailand to retain this part of their national park........

Justice is slow, but, in some cases completely worthwhile.

The park beat the cheating big money owners.....

Do you think that the demolition is going to return that location back to it's natural beauty over night? It will take years, if not decades for that to happen, and not only that, it's going to take lots and lots and lots of Baht!!

But if it's being demolished and it's worth 100 Million Baht, isn't this a case of cutting of ones nose to spite their face? Surely it's better to keep it and turn over to the Park Authorities and let THEM receive all the possible income as a Private Enterprise??

Would like to see the court confiscate the illegal earning of this resort from the 2 owners too, this would definately send out the right message.

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A poignant quote from their website http://www.pangam.com/index.php?page=home

"At Pa Ngam we’ve learned that sometimes the things we can’t do are really just the things we haven’t tried yet."

13 years and finally a sucess for the people of Thailand to retain this part of their national park........

Justice is slow, but, in some cases completely worthwhile.

The park beat the cheating big money owners.....

Do you think that the demolition is going to return that location back to it's natural beauty over night? It will take years, if not decades for that to happen, and not only that, it's going to take lots and lots and lots of Baht!!

But if it's being demolished and it's worth 100 Million Baht, isn't this a case of cutting of ones nose to spite their face? Surely it's better to keep it and turn over to the Park Authorities and let THEM receive all the possible income as a Private Enterprise??

With tent sites at 1000 baht a night and accommodation ranging from 1300 baht a night to 3000 baht, not a bad little earner either. Personally I think the landscaping is horrendous - looks like Sound of Music on mescaline territory to me

13 years and finally a sucess for the people of Thailand to retain this part of their national park........

Justice is slow, but, in some cases completely worthwhile.

The park beat the cheating big money owners.....

Do you think that the demolition is going to return that location back to it's natural beauty over night? It will take years, if not decades for that to happen, and not only that, it's going to take lots and lots and lots of Baht!!

But if it's being demolished and it's worth 100 Million Baht, isn't this a case of cutting of ones nose to spite their face? Surely it's better to keep it and turn over to the Park Authorities and let THEM receive all the possible income as a Private Enterprise??

The idea is good.. but then do they have to pay the owners for the buildings ? If not go for it.. if so.. then you get that its favoritism.

I have no idea on what side of the political spectrum the owners are.. but it could lead to complaints from others and from forum members that this is a favor too. xxxxx

Hell no, pay the owners nothing !! It's simple asset seizing, they've already been fined 75,000 baht for going ahead with it already, is there any criminal/civil charges against the owners ?

I do agree that it could be seen as favouritism, and it would piss others who had their property destroyed, however, the Army are in charge now, and hell, if I was the General, I'd turn the resort into the Divisional Headquarters for the Army :D

I'll drive the JCB if they want ...

I'll drive the JCB if they want ...

Today we will all play squash, and I will be driving the steamroller.

"The park chief said the department has filed more than 400 cases against owners of properties encroached and built inside national parks during the past three years."

The past three years were a wild wild west in many ways. Things are changing for the better now.

They've filed 400 cases in the last three years, you interpret that as a sign of the failings of PT's regime, but you have no idea whether filing this many cases is out of the ordinary. Or do you? Can you tell us how many cases they've filed in the last six years? Just so we can get a sense of whether the number given for the last three years is out of the ordinary. Also, for all we know, they might've actually filed more cases in the last three years as they were able to do their jobs properly where they were being blocked before. I don't think this is likely, but we can't know for sure by just looking at the figures alone.

Anyway, if the past is anything to go by, it suggests we've no reason to think military leaders would be any better than politicians on this score. Recall the Surayud fiasco.

..."you interpret that as a sign of the failings of PT's regime"...

Where did I "interpret" that? Please don't be paranoid.

Hilarious. Still apologising for the government even after it's dead and buried.

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"The park chief said the department has filed more than 400 cases against owners of properties encroached and built inside national parks during the past three years."

The past three years were a wild wild west in many ways. Things are changing for the better now.

Indeed. Just goes to show the level of lawlessness practiced and supported by Thaksin, the PTP/Reds/UDD and the police.

Things do indeed seem to be changing for the better. And well past due. Bravo General.

It would do the USA, UK, Australia, EU et al, to do their homework before denouncing the coup. Things haven't been this good in Thailand in many many years.

The real question is how do you build something that big in a nation forest, without the authorities scrutiny.

I think it is called 'brown envelopes'. Or perhaps 'shoe boxes', if brown envelopes prove too small.

13 years and finally a sucess for the people of Thailand to retain this part of their national park........

Justice is slow, but, in some cases completely worthwhile.

The park beat the cheating big money owners.....

Do you think that the demolition is going to return that location back to it's natural beauty over night? It will take years, if not decades for that to happen, and not only that, it's going to take lots and lots and lots of Baht!!

But if it's being demolished and it's worth 100 Million Baht, isn't this a case of cutting of ones nose to spite their face? Surely it's better to keep it and turn over to the Park Authorities and let THEM receive all the possible income as a Private Enterprise??

I think yes, nature, if left to it's own devices will, in no time re heal the wounds of humans..

"The park chief said the department has filed more than 400 cases against owners of properties encroached and built inside national parks during the past three years."

The past three years were a wild wild west in many ways. Things are changing for the better now.

They've filed 400 cases in the last three years, you interpret that as a sign of the failings of PT's regime, but you have no idea whether filing this many cases is out of the ordinary. Or do you? Can you tell us how many cases they've filed in the last six years? Just so we can get a sense of whether the number given for the last three years is out of the ordinary. Also, for all we know, they might've actually filed more cases in the last three years as they were able to do their jobs properly where they were being blocked before. I don't think this is likely, but we can't know for sure by just looking at the figures alone.

Anyway, if the past is anything to go by, it suggests we've no reason to think military leaders would be any better than politicians on this score. Recall the Surayud fiasco.

Alpine Golf Resort and Estate, rings a bell, the Shin family, no?