Army halts Doi Suthep plan

The chief of the Royal Thai Army has suspended the construction of a Region 5 Court of Appeal office and housing for judicial employees at the foot of Doi Suthep National Park in Chiang Mai province.

The move came after local people expressed concerns over the environmental impact of the project.

Gen Chalermchai Sitthisad said yesterday that Maj Gen Sathit Srisuwan, chief of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 3, had inspected the site and, given local residents’ doubts, the agency has halted construction so that the case can be examined.

“Now the construction is suspended, stakeholders must come and discuss what to do with the project,” he said.

Sawat Surawattananan, president of the Court of Appeal Region 5, last month told Thai PBS that the site has been state owned since 2006 and the felling of trees would be carried out only when necessary. After the construction, trees would be replanted in the area.

The project, if finished, will house approximately 200 officials from seven judicial organisations in Chiang Mai.

Even though both directors had stressed that the project is not illegal, members of the public voiced their opposition.

On Change.org, a campaign urging the Region 5 Court of Appeal to return the 147 rai of land has garnered over 22,000 supporters.

Thanong Thongphubate, the initiator of the campaign, stated that the use of the land, although lawful, negatively affects the forest and mountain environment.

“This project should use another location, for the sake of the natural environment, the ecosystem, the country the people and faith in the justice system,” he wrote for the campaign.