Military Seize 2,000 rai From Businesses Illegally Trespassing and Logging in Chiang Dao

 | Thu 28 May 2015 06:11 ICT

CityNews – 150 military personnel, local authorities and officials have seized over 2,000 rai of land after locals claimed large businesses were trespassing on protected land and illegally logging and farming.

logging

The forests around four villages in Chiang Dao; Ban Nawai, Ban Lopahan, Ban Huaysai and Ban Huaypao have all been illegally entered by large companies attempting to expand their logging and farming industries.

The increased industrial work and the loss of trees has caused drought in the area, severely affecting the villagers in the local communities.

These communities have tried to protect the forests but were unsuccessful after being threatened by powerful businesses.

Nueng Kumwong, the president of Ban Nawai Community Forest Committee, called on the government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) for help as forests they are trying to maintain continue to be destroyed.

He also blamed government officials who are supposedly responsible for the matter for ignoring the situation and have not taken care of the forests.

Nueng called on officials to bring in people who can work seriously in the area before there is not a tree left to protect.

The land has now been seized and officials are allegedly tracing the suspected businesses in order to prosecute them.