National Parks chief 'did not break any laws' in tearing down resorts
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The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department's chief has not violated any laws by demolishing the nine resorts that were encroaching on the Thab Lan National Park, the investigative panel said yesterday.
The panel, appointed by the premier and chaired by deputy permanent secretary to the PM’s office, Panchai Wattanachai, led an investigation into DNP’s director-general Damrong Phidet. Damrong ordered the demolition of resorts encroaching upon the national parks in Wang Nam Kheow in Nakhon Ratchasima and Na Di in Prachin Buri.
An investigation showed that the DNP chief had complied with the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Act at every step in the demolition raids.
Meanwhile, the Administrative Court refused to take up a complaint filed against Damrong by the owners of the targeted resorts, including the largest resort in the area – the Ta Lay Mhok Resort.
The court said the resort owners had already admitted that their properties were encroaching on national parks.
