Officials from several agencies went back to Ban Hmong Doi Pui in Chiang Mai this morning (October 26) to look at the damage from the illegal felling of wild Himalayan cherry trees, and said they will pursue the case “to the fullest extent.”
Krisayam Khongsatri, director of Protected Area Regional Office 16 Chiang Mai, was there with Thongchai Narat, chief of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, and Surachet Takhamma, mayor of Suthep municipality. They brought administrative officials and other agencies to the spot marking a royal visit, in Moo 11, Suthep subdistrict, Mueang district.
The case blew up after Chiang Mai social media filled with before-and-after photos of the Doi Pui viewpoint. The first showed a hillside packed with pink blossoms. The second showed a bare slope, stumps and logs piled on the ground. Critics were not gentle, since villagers had helped plant the trees from 2007 and the spot had become a tourist landmark. A check found 15 trees cut and sawn into 46 pieces, 11 of them wild Himalayan cherry, accounting for 40 of the pieces.
Park officials filed a complaint on October 22 at Phuping Rachaniwet police station under the National Parks Act 2019, the Forest Act 1941 and the National Reserved Forests Act 1964. On October 24, Pol Maj Gen Thawatchai Phongwiwatchai, deputy commander of Provincial Police Region 5, called an urgent meeting and split those to be investigated into four groups: local politicians, administrative and municipal officials, villagers who joined the cutting, and whoever gave the orders. He said photos and witness statements are on hand.
On October 25, Pol Col Sinothai Lilittham, the station superintendent, said witnesses questioned so far point clearly to one offender, and two to four more will be called to build the evidence for an arrest warrant. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin then ordered the case sped up on October 25 and 26, saying evidence has pinned down seven suspects. Investigators have asked park officials to give further statements, and the ministry is coordinating with the Suthep village headman and the Hmong association.
Today’s visit brought together the province, Mueang district, the park, Suthep municipality, Region 5 police and the local station to sum up the situation. The case is still at the stage of gathering evidence, issuing summonses and asking the court for arrest warrants.
Methaphan Phuchakritdapha, the Suthep village headman, apologised for what happened. He insisted that everyone in Ban Hmong Doi Pui is ready to look after the area, and said another talk with villagers is planned on how to protect the royal-visit site together.
