After building 14 wooden bungalows inside Khaolaem National Park in the province of Kanchanaburi, owners are now taking them down as national park officials have deemed them to be illegal. The two owners of Kratom Rimtarn Resort have reportedly already dismantled 5 of the 14 bungalows with 9 more to be removed by the end of this month.

The park chief says once the bungalows have been removed, they will begin rejuvenating the area by planting trees and refilling water resources.

SOURCE: Thai Residents

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PHUKET: Narit Khamnurak, Chairman of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE), this week led a parliamentary inquiry to follow up the investigation into resorts accused of encroaching on national park land on Phuket’s west coast.

At Sirinath Marine National Park headquarters, Mr Narit together with nine officers on Friday reviewed the investigation reports compiled by Royal Forest Department (RFD) officers who raided the 10 Phuket resorts on August 15 under orders by National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) Director-General Damrong Phidet.

After reviewing the progress made, Mr Narit ordered the teams investigating the four “new” cases to be investigated, including the home of French businessman Bernard Gautier , to complete their work as soon as possible.

The original deadline for completing their investigations was September 25, Mr Narit reminded them.

However, Sirinath National Park chief Cheewapap Cheewatham pointed out his officers learned of Mr Gautier’s house only at the end of August and that the two Malaiwana projects and the Istana projects now under investigation were added to their “to be probed” list only last week.

“Hopefully, we will be finished surveying the sites by the end of next week, but we will still have to send our surveys to the DNP to concur our surveys with aerial photographs of the area.

“We all know that will take time, so I don’t know when they will finish,” he said.

Mr Cheewapap added that his office had encountered problems, specifically what he called “communication difficulties” with investigating Mr Gautier’s house.

“The man will not let my officers inspect the area around his house although they have presented him with a search warrant,” said Mr Cheewapap.

Mr Narit, a Democrat Party MP for Phattalung, told park chief Cheewapap, “The investigation teams should have their work completed within a month. After that the DNP teams will start to examine the land ownership documents of all 379 plots along the national park border.”

“I want every National Park chief in Thailand to review their park boundaries and clearly mark them, so that when any developers try to encroach on national park land, it will be obviously noticed and easier for the officers to inspect and take legal action against them,” he added.

DNP Director-General Damrong announced during an inspection visit to Phuket on Wednesday that he will assign hundreds officers to investigate 379 plots suspected of encroaching on more than 3,000 rai of land in Phuket’s Sirinath Marine National Park.

A total of 366 DNP officers, split into teams of six, will investigate suspect plots along the border of the national park.

His officers will be tasked with investigating their assigned plots, coordinating with the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) investigation also currently ongoing in Phuket, filing complaints with police and presenting their cases in court, Mr Damrong said.

“Any land document issued after 1964 will be considered illegal. Landowners will have to fight in court if they want to prove that they legally own the land in question,” warned Mr Damrong.

He added that the officers to be assigned the Phuket blitz will also be used in crackdowns elsewhere in Thailand.

“I will start with Sirinath National Park, which I believe we can start investigating by mid-October. However, I will have to train those officers about investigation procedures and educate them on the relevant aspects of the law,” he said.

Directing his vision to after his impending retirement, Mr Damrong said, “I hope the new DNP Director General will continue my work, otherwise that person will have a lot of explaining to do to the public.”

— Kritsada Mueanhawong

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– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: Thap Lan National Park officials set up signs early yesterday warning that 36 resorts allegedly encroaching on the park will be demolished, despite reports of officers being threatened while putting the signs up at some places earlier.

The park covers parts of Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachin Buri provinces and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Park chief Thewin Meesap said park officials would post the signs at five to six places a day to cover all 36 resorts to be demolished in Tambon Thai Samakkhi and Tambon Nam Kheow in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Wang Nam Kheow district.

The 36 resorts were among 291 resorts investigated for possible encroachment on the park, but no-one claimed ownership of them.

In Prachin Buri, signs have already been posted at 90 resorts, Park chief Thewin said, and the owner of Ban Pha Ngam resort would finish demolishing it by the end of the year.

— Phuket Gazette Editors

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PHOTO: Chaiwat Limlikhit-akson, former head of Kaeng Krachan National Park and Polajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen

The Department of Special Investigations says they plan to file charges against a former national park chief and three park officials, in connection with the murder of Karen community rights activist Polajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen back in 2014.

Shane Kanchanapat, director of the DSI’s Special Cases Division, told local media that about 17 files will be submitted to the Office of the Attorney General, along with a recommendation of charges against Chaiwat Limlikhit-akson, former head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, and three former staff members: Boontaen Busarakham, Thanaseth (Paitoon) Chamthet and Krisanapong Chitthet.

The charges include premeditated murder, illegal detention, coercion through use of firearms and physical force, robbery, concealment of a body and malfeasance in office.

The DSI accepted the case in June of 2018, but got a break in April of this year when they found a 200-litre oil drum in the river under a bridge in the national park in Phetchaburi province. DNA samples from bone fragments in the drum matched those of Billy’s mother.

Police say the suspects declined to make formal statements to the DSI and were given until November 28 to submit written testimony. As of the deadline, nothing had been received. Public prosecutors now have 40 days to study the DSI’s findings and to decide whether to indict the suspects or demand more evidence from them.

Billy’s widow, Pinnapa, told reporters she is satisfied with the DSI’s performance and that there is still a chance for justice. Her lawyer said filing the charges will help convince the international community that the Thai justice system meets international standards and can be trusted.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World

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Over the long holiday weekend, more than 1,500 tourists a day flocked to the Royal Park Rajapruek in Chiang Mai. Most of the visitors were Thais from other provinces to enjoy the beautiful display of seasonal flowers adorning the park grounds. The Ratchaphruek Flower Gardens are considered a “must-see” when visiting the northern capital. The expansive gardens are incredibly picturesque. Bike rentals are available and, for less active travellers, a tram is available to take you around.

One unique place to visit during the tour was the orchid greenhouse, where a variety of orchids are currently in full bloom. TripAdvisor recommends about 2 hours to get around the park.

Another attraction to the park was its dedication to featuring toxin-absorbing and air-purifying plants that draw in tourists to relax in the fresh air and natural beauty of the park. However, all visitors are asked to wear face masks and to observe the normal Covid-19 protocols of washing hands and socially distancing to protect themselves and others from any possible infections.

Other northern National Parks and mountains also had a high level of visits over the 4 day long weekend.

Thailand yesterday recorded 11 new cases of Covid with 1 case being locally-transmitted at a refugee camp in Tak province . The Burmese refugee reportedly snuck out of the camp and crossed the Thai-Myanmar border for a visit, and then returned to the camp. The refugee was displaying symptoms and later tested positive for Covid. Such an illegal crossing has seen Thailand impose stricter controls over its border with Myanmar after the latter nation saw a spike in virus cases.

SOURCE: The Pattaya Mail

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