CityNews – The Dharma Retreat Buddhist Centre in the Khun Mae Kuang National Forest Reserve was demolished by the Royal Forestry Department Chiang Mai after the owner failed to relocate after he was found to be trespassing on protected land.
On September 4, the Royal Forestry Department Cihang Mai and the Chiang Mai Forest Prevention and Reservation Unit Doi Saket moved into the centre and demolished the buildings found on land owned by the Mae Kuang National Forest Reserve.
The Dharma Retreat Buddhist Centre belongs to Sakda Sakulpanarak who was found to have built on protected land. He was given a deadline of March 21, 2016 to demolish his buildings and leave the area but he refused.
Disobeying this order could see Sakda fined up to 5,000 baht, sent to jail for six months or both.
When the demolition date was set by the Forestry Department, they arrived to the centre and discovered that the kitchen and toilet was partially demolished already. The department successfully demolished the remainder of the centre and also safely removed the Buddha statue which they will find it a new home.