Legal action against encroachers will continue: Preecha
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk refused all requests from developers and local officials to stop legal action from being taken against those encroaching into Nakhon Ratchasima province's Wang Nam Kheow forest reserves.
"The wrongdoers will be punished no matter who they are," Preecha said.
This stance comes after about 30 Wang Nam Kheow officials and politicians, led by Bhum Jai Thai MP Pranom Phokham, submitted a letter to Royal Forest Department (RFD) chief Suwit Rattanamanee on Thursday asking him to suspend legal action against developers and villagers believed to be invading the land.
They also asked the RFD to conduct a new survey demarcating the forest reserve's boundary, claiming the existing border overlaps residential areas.
"No one can pressure us into doing or not doing anything related to the land encroachment in Wang Nam Kheow. The law is for everyone," he said. "I cannot not stop the legal action being taken against wrongdoers."
Preecha has instructed RFD chief Suwit and Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation chief Sunant Arunnoparat to resolve the problem of wealthy people using their influence to coerce local authorities into allowing them to build resorts and private homes in protected areas
Previously, the RFD had taken legal action against 22 wealthy developers who built structures in forest reserves, the ministry's permanent secretary Chote Trachoo said.
The ministry will only allow residents waiting for their landownership papers as per a June 30, 1998, Cabinet resolution to continue staying in the area.
