Panel set up to probe cover-up of forest fire at Phu Kradueng national park

BANGKOK: Over 1,000 rai of forest in Phu Kradueng national park in Loei province were burned down and one tractor was damaged but the incident was not reported to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants until four days afterward.

The department chief, Mr Tunya Netithammakul, said that the fire took place on March 20 and he was informed about it four days after. He said he felt all the officials at Phu Kradueng appeared to be intent to cover up the incident.

A committee has been set up to investigate all the officials involved from the director and the park chief down to officials in the field to find out what actually happened and how the tractor was damaged, said Mr Tunya.

He admitted that more forest area in Phu Kradueng national park were damaged this year than the previous years’.

Since October last year until March 23 this year, 4,005 forest fire incidents were reported in forest conservation areas with over 58,000 rai of forests damaged compared to 12,000 rai in 2015.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/156879

-- Thai PBS 2016-03-26

The fires are mostly started deliberately and the Rangers aren't doing their jobs.

Was anyone there picking mushrooms?

Sent from my c64

A tractor has been damaged and then the authorities start moving to set up a panel to investigate.

Since Jezus died yesterday today I do the weeping.

The fact is that it took days for him to be informed says all about the inability and laziness. Probably spend their days in a hammock

hanging from the trees because it is too hot out.

Fire his behind.

I guess the department chief must not get out of his office much, or maybe he was busy with his other business ventures. His gophers mobil phones were all on the blink along with

other circumstances that may have delayed reporting for 4 days. The huge increase of fire damage this year vs all of last year

may indicate the need for a massive reduction in force is needed. Start at the top (chief) and go down, until you find the individuals who will rat out those behind the payments and those setting the fires.

Reward money would probably bring out the ones who have been left out or feel cheated out of a share. Someone must have moved a tractor into the area for it to be damaged, who has authority to dispatch equipment? As the man in charge, he could /should be resonsible for answering the questions not some committee who are problably involved in the corrupt system itself.

No mobile phone signal up the mountain...