Chief faces probe over demolitions

The chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will face investigation by two government-appointed committees for his strong action of leading some 5,000 department staff to demolish nine big resorts located at Thab Lan National Park last week.
The two committee will investigate the facts behind the action by department chief Damrong Phidet, who led the demolition of nine luxury resorts in the Thab Lan National Park located at Wang Nam Kheow in Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachin Buri’s Na Di district.
The first committee was set up yesterday by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, according to Chote Trachoo, the ministry’s permanent secretary.
This committee will be chaired by deputy permanent secretary Mingkhwan Wichayarangsit, he added.
The second panel was set up by the cabinet.
This panel will be chaired by Phanchai Watthanachai, deputy permanent secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office.
This committee will comprise Kamon Thammasereekul, director-general of the Office of the Attorney-General, Satja Khemmajaru, deputy director of Legal Execution Department, Mongkol Saenghirun, director of the Prime Minister’s Office Bureau of Legal Affairs and General Regulations.
Tongthong Chandransu, permanent secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, said he has instructed the panel chairperson to finish the investigation and reveal the results within 15 days.
He added that this panel was not tasked with removing Damrong.
Meanwhile, Chote insisted that he would not move Damrong from his current position to work at the permanent secretary’s office.
“It was just a rumour,” he said.
He accepted that the investigation into Damrong’s action of demolishing nine resorts in Thab Lan National Park stemmed from complaints filed by the owners of these resorts, including Ta Lay Mhok resort which was the biggest in the area.
Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboon yesterday met the owners of the nine resorts to receive their complaints against Damrong’s strong action.
Damrong told Thai News Agency that the demolition only followed the court’s order and insisted that he would not be removed from his current position.
“The department had given them [resort owners] time to remove all buildings and constructions by themselves out of the national park area but no one followed our instruction.
“That’s was why we had to destroy these constructions by ourselves,” he said.