Doi Suthep march to continue

Civil groups protesting against a controversial housing project for judicial employees at the foot of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai province yesterday insisted on continuing their planned journey from the northern province of Lampang to Bangkok, despite a meeting among the stakeholders scheduled for today.

They aim to submit a petition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asking him to exercise his special power under Section 44 of the constitution to terminate the project.

The main march is set to resume tomorrow, said a group of students among the more than 1,000 demonstrators attending a cycling rally from Chiang Mai’s international trade exhibition centre to an area outside the Region 5 Court of Appeal office, which owns the project.

The protesters later proceeded to the border of a forest next to Huay Tueng Thao, a reservoir in Mae Rim district, where they performed what was described as a forest ordination rite, which according to a local belief will help extend the life of the forest.

The Region 5 Court of Appeal office’s assurances that the construction site is located on Treasury Department land in tambon Don Kaew in Mae Rim district that it is not part of the national park were dismissed by the protestors who claim the project nevertheless involves the destruction of forest areas.

Lt Gen Wijak Siribansop, chief of the 3rd Army, said a forum planned for today at Kawila military camp, or the 33rd Military Circle, in Muang district of Chiang Mai is expected to be attended by all concerned sides.

Opinions regarding possible solutions to the dispute will be compiled into a report to be later submitted to Gen Prayut, said Lt Gen Wijak.

Following calls by civil and conservation groups for him to invoke his all-powerful Section 44 power, Gen Prayut last week said he had instructed the National Council for Peace and Order’s legal team to resolve the matter suitably for all parties.