Thread: Thailand protesters in rare rally over Chiang Mai development

I wonder if the Fuhrer will react?

Thailand protesters in rare rally over Chiang Mai development



Protesters in Thailand have staged one of the country's biggest demonstrations since the 2014 military coup as they campaign against a luxury housing development on forested land.

More than 1,000 people gathered in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

They rallied against a housing project being built for judges and officials in the foothills of a sacred mountain.

The march went ahead in defiance of a ban on public gatherings imposed by the junta, which seized power in 2014.

"Around 1,250 people took part in the protest," Police Colonel Paisan, deputy commander of Chiang Mai Police, told Reuters news agency.

"The protesters were focused on environmental issues and not politics, and they cleaned the street afterwards."


Demonstrators, many wearing green ribbons, demanded the dismantling of new buildings that encroach into the mountain, Doi Suthep. The forested area contains a popular temple and is considered by some to be sacred.

They gave the government seven days to comply or face more protests.

But the authorities have defended the development, insisting it was erected legally on government-owned land that does not infringe on the national park covering the rest of the mountain.


About 1 billion baht ($32 million; £23 million) has been spent on the project,which includes offices as well as housing, and it is nearly complete, according to the Bangkok Post.

Anger over the construction comes amid growing frustration about special treatment for Thai elites and officials.

Thailand protesters in rare rally over Chiang Mai development - BBC News

The people's revolution will not be televised in fear of martyrs and other ill-gotten associations.

The time is near......generally speaking.

Originally Posted by HuangLao

The people's revolution will not be televised in fear of martyrs and other ill-gotten associations.

The time is near......generally speaking.

Fuck off Jeff, it's on the BBC.

What a fun day out!

Can we have one in Bangkok, it looked like so much fun.

PM names Doi Suthep arbiter

Bangkok Post
2 May 2018
WRITER: PATPON SABPAITOON & WASSANA NANUAM



PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana will sit down with all sides and try to fix the Doi Suthep housing project - but Gen Prayut says the law is key. (File photos)

The government has appointed Prime Minister's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana to lead a panel to resolve the conflict over the housing project built for judges and judicial officials at the foot of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said negotiations, led by Mr Suwaphan, involving all stakeholders will decide the fate of the billion-baht project, have yielded promising results so far. The prime minister did not reveal Tuesday with whom Mr Suwaphan has held talks.

On Tuesday, the Facebook page ThaigovSpokesman (Thai Khu Fah) operated by the government, published a post inviting the public to voice their opinions and give suggestions on how the dispute should be dealt with.
In 16 hours, the post spawned more than 14,000 responses, with the majority saying that although the construction of the project is not illegal, it is inappropriate and anti-environmental.

However, there was no consensus as to whether the project should be demolished or repurposed, with opinions split down the middle. "The government cares about the feelings of Chiang Mai residents, but to solve the problem, reason must also be applied," said the prime minister.

He also made further comments on how best to deal with the issue after 5,000 Chiang Mai residents on Sunday marched through the city to demand the demolition of the housing project and the restoration of the forest. They gave the prime minister a one-week ultimatum to resolve the issue.

The rally was the biggest protest against authorities since the 2014 coup.

Gen Prayut, addressing the demands of the protesters, urged the public not to use the term ultimatum, saying the government was doing its best to appease all sides. The premier stated that although the dispute has worried him, many aspects must be taken into consideration since the issue involves various laws.

Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon reiterated that the government is working on the issue, and that he believes the result will be agreeable to everyone.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gen...suthep-arbiter

Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay

The main point of authorities is that the project is legal, land owned by the Army which allowed the Justice ministry to build it.

This raise questions on the land provided tothe Army, is it allowed to develop its land like it wants? If so, shall theses land plots still remain Army's property?

On the legality, is something legal to do (like for example selling a telecom company with no or few taxes on profit), is acceptable politically? We know this wasn't allowed in the past, it even triggered a Coup, so what now when the coup makers do the same (or worst as the land is owned by a public entity, the telecom company wasn't)?

I had a look at the houses, beside the prime location they are quite luxurious for job accommodation. That's tell a lot on how civil-servants consider themselves, wasting tax-payers' money on posh housings. Then authorities will say they need to collect more taxes to fund infrastructure projects and enforce laws properly...the irony.

Actually is there a need for housing justice employees? I assume they earn more than average Thai people, can get lawn easily and at cheaper rate so this raise also some questions

Especially when authorities are enforcing land laws to mountain people for setting up home stay operations illegally.

End of the rant

I believe the cries of injustice and associated issues are of an ethical, moral and environmental stand - less the chosen legal points, that have little to do towards what is right and what isn't within a firm oligarchical/plutocratic system.

The elitist authoritarian circles have always pursued and proceeded to their whimsy, regardless of such "legalities", as laws are manipulated and made up on the run - always to favour this privileged circle.

I might remind those that test such waters of Thai law pertaining to land, especially supposed "public" lands: Even to this day.... government, military, and state dominated corporate land requires special permission from the influential ones - be it under the auspices of purchasing, selling, trading, developing, whatever.

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana will sit down with all sides and try to fix the Doi Suthep housing project - but Gen Prayut says the law is key.

Conveniently forgetting to mention that he *is* the fucking law.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Conveniently forgetting to mention that he *is* the fucking law.

Well, kinda....
Surface appearances can sometimes be deceiving.

Talks advance over Doi Suthep
By Pratch Rujivanarom

Two committees start talks to resolve details over judges’ residences

CHIANG MAI citizen networks have announced what they see as the first step towards ending the controversy over the judges’ residence project at Doi Suthep Mountain, as two joint committees have been set up to look at the issues of healing the “scar on the face of Doi Suthep” and settle the legal issues of demolition of state property.

The coordinator of Doi Suthep Forestland Reclamation Network, Teerasak Rupsuwan, said after the latest meeting between citizen groups and local authorities in Chiang Mai yesterday that the reclamation of the encroached land on the Doi Suthep forest has officially started, as the public sector and authorities have already reached the agreement to return the Court of Justice’s housing project for judges back to forestland.

Teerasak said that representatives of public sector and related official agencies will work together on two newly formed joint committees with a mission to heal the encroached land and solve the legal issues that may arise from the clearing out of the state’s properties.

“The first committee will have the task to reforest the land back to its former state as part of the Doi Suthep forest. The Royal Forest Department will take the lead on this mission, as they will provide the tree seedlings, reforestation technique and officers, while the citizen networks will support them with other help they may need,” Teerasak said.

“Meanwhile, the second committee is exclusively set up to deal with any legal issues that may arise, as according to the law, this project was legally proceeded and authorised. This committee will have the major task to make sure that the revocation of this state project and reclamation effort will also be legal.”

He said that from now on the army would build a new access road to the encroached land to avoid using the entrance of the Appeals Court Region 5. As well, surveying land at the site of justice officials’ housing project will start this Thursday to draw the line of the former forestland and identify the area that has encroached into the forest.

“There will be an official ceremony on May 27 to mark the start of reforestation effort. On that day, the representatives from related agencies and people from Chiang Mai and elsewhere will plant the trees together,” he said.

However, he said yesterday’s meeting did not discuss deeper details, such as the cost of the entire land reclamation effort, as he the meeting was merely to talk about draft plans and frameworks for the cooperation between the public and the authorities.

Meanwhile, the Court of Justice’s spokesperson, Suriyan Hongwilai, said that the agency was currently waiting for the official letter from the government on the solution to this issue. Suriyan said that Court of Justice was ready to comply with the government’s final decision.

Talks advance over Doi Suthep

It looks like the protests achieved something, but earlier reports talked about finishing the houses as it wasn't legal to cancel the contract...it sounded fishy as authorities can pay them in full (or a discounted price if part of materials haven't been purchased yet, and labour ). Then the demolition wasn't presented as the agreed solutions, it needed talks...

If what this article says is true, that's good new, yet protesters should keep their attentions on the fine details of theses talks to avoid deception

The whole thing doesn't really inspire confidence in the judges or courts, does it ?

Indeed, this story tells a lot on how judiciary authorities view themselves. Wasting nature area and taxpayers'money to house public servants (with style and priceless privacy and green area) who earn more than average and thus can afford their own house without benefitting from public money...

Try and work this one out....

My guess is envelopes changed hands with the contractor....

May 7, 2018

CityNews – In a decision the surprised all parties involved, the Government has announced that the land that is home to the judicial houses on Doi Suthep, dubbed ‘the scar of Doi Suthep’, must be returned to the forest as soon as possible.

On May 6th, a meeting was held at City Hall to discuss the issue with a minister from the Office of the Prime Minister, Suwapan Tanyauwattana. Over 50 representatives from the campaign against the case participated, however there was no representatives from Court of Appeal Region 5 after another no-show.

Suwapan explained to those who attended the meeting that the Prime Minister had spoken his mind on the matter and ordered that no one will be allowed to live in the disputed area, authorities must execute a land survey to separate the area from the judicial offices and that authorities will restore the land to forest land.

The disputed area spans 41 rai of land and contains 45 houses built by the courthouse to house it’s more senior staff and their families. The land will now be re-zoned and returned to it’s original owner, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. The Forestry Office or National Part Office will be in charge of reforestation.

The court will remain the owners of a small plot of land that is within their boundaries, consisting of two office buildings and three flats.

However, the buildings themselves will remain built on the land due to legal conflicts that prevent them from being demolished. The construction company has been told to finish construction as soon as possible, allowing the Government to honour the building contract, so that the contractor is not affected by the decision. The anti-judicial housing campaign coordinator, Teerasak Lubsuwan, stated that if the forest is returned, the housing will eventually disappear.

A committee will be set up to work on the case. In the short term, trees will be planted as soon as possible and in the long term, a full environmental impact and resource management study will be conducted. Citizens will also be asked to help restore the land.

Teerasak expressed his gratitude towards the Prime Minister, and thanked the Chiang Mai people for being so involved in the cause. He reiterated that there was no political agenda behind the campaign but said that he will remain dedicated to restoring Doi Suthep and monitoring the reforestation case closely.

Chiang Mai CityNews - Government Says Scar of Doi Suthep Must be Returned to Forest

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Try and work this one out....

My guess is envelopes changed hands with the contractor....

Imagine that....

Court asked to halt Doi Suthep

The Doi Suthep Forest Reclamation Network will today ask the Court of Appeals Region 5 to stop the ongoing construction at the controversial site that is now labelled “No Man’s Land”. “We will give the court 10 days to respond,” the network’s co-ordinator Teerasak Rupsuwan said yesterday. “Without positive response, we will also stage a big rally on June 30.”

The network also demanded the eviction of 30 families who had lately moved in to what is supposed to be an uninhabited area. The controversial site sits at the foot of Chiang Mai’s Doi Suthep mountain, whereby structures that were initially designated as court officials’ residences are being built. Many families had reportedly moved in and were living in the structures despite the controversy.

After locals and environmentalists led a high-profile campaign strongly opposing building on the land plots [...] The government in early May brokered an agreement for a portion of the property to be handed over to the Treasury Department before being reforested and returned to Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. The deal allowed for the office building and four flat buildings to remain. The network was waiting until a June 18 deadline for the contractor to sign over the last phase of the project to the court so the hand-over could begin.

But reports of 30 families moving in since April – plus a rumour that the contractor might miss the deadline – prompted concern that the court might ignore the order. PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, the government’s mediator in the dispute, on Sunday sent his secretary, Thaworn Phrommeechai, and other members of the central committee to inspect the site along with a Chiang Mai-based sub-panel. Suwaphan urged both sides to think of “the common good”, to be understanding of each other, and to have a positive and non-hostile viewpoint. “We should proceed with what can be done in the short term while both sides discuss mid-term and long-term solutions based on the law, academic studies, the facts of the locality and other factors,” Suwaphan said.

Court asked to halt Doi Suthep building

I'm somewhat not surprised to see civil-servants moving in and I love the mediator's statement about "common good", short/long term solutions taking into account the law, academic studies and "other factors"... it sounds like protesters who gained the cancelation of the project are getting screwed big time and are asked to behave...

Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay

Court asked to halt Doi Suthep

The Doi Suthep Forest Reclamation Network will today ask the Court of Appeals Region 5 to stop the ongoing construction at the controversial site that is now labelled “No Man’s Land”. “We will give the court 10 days to respond,” the network’s co-ordinator Teerasak Rupsuwan said yesterday. “Without positive response, we will also stage a big rally on June 30.”

The network also demanded the eviction of 30 families who had lately moved in to what is supposed to be an uninhabited area. The controversial site sits at the foot of Chiang Mai’s Doi Suthep mountain, whereby structures that were initially designated as court officials’ residences are being built. Many families had reportedly moved in and were living in the structures despite the controversy.

After locals and environmentalists led a high-profile campaign strongly opposing building on the land plots [...] The government in early May brokered an agreement for a portion of the property to be handed over to the Treasury Department before being reforested and returned to Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. The deal allowed for the office building and four flat buildings to remain. The network was waiting until a June 18 deadline for the contractor to sign over the last phase of the project to the court so the hand-over could begin.

But reports of 30 families moving in since April – plus a rumour that the contractor might miss the deadline – prompted concern that the court might ignore the order. PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, the government’s mediator in the dispute, on Sunday sent his secretary, Thaworn Phrommeechai, and other members of the central committee to inspect the site along with a Chiang Mai-based sub-panel. Suwaphan urged both sides to think of “the common good”, to be understanding of each other, and to have a positive and non-hostile viewpoint. “We should proceed with what can be done in the short term while both sides discuss mid-term and long-term solutions based on the law, academic studies, the facts of the locality and other factors,” Suwaphan said.

Court asked to halt Doi Suthep building

I'm somewhat not surprised to see civil-servants moving in and I love the mediator's statement about "common good", short/long term solutions taking into account the law, academic studies and "other factors"... it sounds like protesters who gained the cancelation of the project are getting screwed big time and are asked to behave...

I don't know why they even bother.
We know how any favourable Thai judicial decision will be made...


Criminal from the core.

Controversial Doi Suthep Judicial Project Moving to Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI – Having been forced by public opinion to abandon a billion-baht office and housing complex that has scarred Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, judicial officials plan to relocate to a new site in Chiang Rai.

The Courts of Justice management committee, chaired by Supreme Court president Cheep Julamont, made the decision at meetings in Chiang Rai on Thursday and Friday, Saravud Benjakul, secretary-general of the Courts of Justice, said on Saturday.



The decision followed large protests earlier this year by Chiang Mai residents against the use of the 99%-completed houses at the foot of Doi Suthep. They said the project had left a large swath of once lush forest hideously bare and destroyed the view of the popular mountain.

Both sides agreed at a government-mediated meeting to complete the project but that the structures must not be occupied. However, numerous photos and videos posted online have shown some structures occupied.

The entire 148-rai project, comprising houses for judges, flats and houses for officials and two office buildings for the Appeal Court Region 5, cost taxpayers one billion baht in total.



On Thursday, the judicial officials’ panel visited the Chiang Rai Horticulture Research Center, a unit under the Department of Agriculture, where the new Appeal Court Region 5 office would be built.

The panel later decided the site should be used for the housing project for judicial officials as well.

Mr Saravud said the courts would ask the government for a new budget to start the project. He declined to say what would happen to the project at Doi Suthep, saying it was up to the government.

The Office of Courts of Justice Region 5 covers eight provinces in the upper North: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao, Phrae, Mae Hong Son, Lampang and Lamphun.


https://www.chiangraitimes.com/contr...hiang-rai.html

Couldn't organise a corrupt piss up in a dodgy brewery.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Couldn't organise a corrupt piss up in a dodgy brewery.

Might you expect anything less regarding these decisions?
Extended and deepest Thai nepotism at work.


Establishment perpetuating itself.
Same as it ever was.

Originally Posted by misskit

Having been forced by public opinion to abandon a billion-baht office and housing complex that has scarred Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, judicial officials plan to relocate to a new site in Chiang Rai.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Par for the course in our loverly kingdom.

The families that moved in the new houses will be living there until the Chiang Rai project is completed...hey CM population, do you feel it right up your bum?

A quick follow-up

Banners has been set up on November 8th in Thapae and Chang Pueak gates stating in Thai: "Trampling on the hearts of Chiang Mai, dismissing the community rights and disrespecting Doi Suthep" along with the list of appeal court officials who live at the estate.

This name and shame stunt triggered the authorities as they searched (with a warrant) the house of opposants' leader. They tried to find any link to the banners, his computer and mobile phone had been seized.

The leader denied any involvement and stayed he focus on legal issues.

Not sure but apparently another guy have said the banners were his...and has acknowledged the libel charges.

Chiang Mai police hunt banner culprit

Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay

A quick follow-up

Banners has been set up on November 8th in Thapae and Chang Pueak gates stating in Thai: "Trampling on the hearts of Chiang Mai, dismissing the community rights and disrespecting Doi Suthep" along with the list of appeal court officials who live at the estate.

This name and shame stunt triggered the authorities as they searched (with a warrant) the house of opposants' leader. They tried to find any link to the banners, his computer and mobile phone had been seized.

The leader denied any involvement and stayed he focus on legal issues.

Not sure but apparently another guy have said the banners were his...and has acknowledged the libel charges.

Chiang Mai police hunt banner culprit

Kudos towards these folks.
Gonna be a struggle, actions of this nature are always a hardship to what's basically right.

The long difficult battle with a traditional and extended oligarchy should be admired.