Don't stay at resorts illegally built on state land

The event is expected to draw thousands of participants from all over the country.

I did research on the Internet for the route and the concert venue, as well as about places to visit during the trip. I discovered a number of news reports about this place. Operators of resorts in Wang Nam Khiew were sued many years ago for forest encroachment and illegal encroachment on state land.

On discovering this, I decided to turn down the invitation. I do not want to support any business that is accused of encroaching on a national forest that is home to many wildlife and should be an asset for the Thai public as a whole.

Many prospective participants on the trip and the concert event may be unaware of this place’s questionable background. They are only interested in the glamorous event and the “natural beauty” of the resort. 

If they know about the background of that place in question, many of the prospective concert-goers certainly will make the same decision as me.

I talked once with a foreign friend about conservation of natural tourist destinations and tours of forest reserves and mangrove forests. The foreign friend told me that people in his country respect the laws and care for the environment. People in that country often avoid breaking the laws or damaging the environment, and they tend to boycott any person or business that violates the law or damages the environment.

“In my country, hotels and resorts that encroach on the forest or hold the land illegally will be boycotted by the public. Without customers, their businesses will have to close down due to loss,” my friend said.

He added that before going to stay at any hotel or resort during a trip, people in his country often check to see whether the place has any problem about the environment and would avoid any place with a questionable background. “We also distribute our findings online so that other people will know about it too.”

The problem of forest encroachment and illegal occupation of state land has existed for a long time in Thailand. 

Following the coup, the National Council for Peace and Order and now the government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha have got tough with people who have broken this law. 

Arrests have been made and buildings on state land dismantled. However, there are also cases of stubborn law violators who continue to hold land illegally. This poses a challenge for the government and the authorities involved.

I would like to focus on Wang Nam Khiew and Pak Chong districts of Nakhon Ratchasima, which are located near the national forests of Khao Yai and Thap Lan. That area is known as the “Switzerland of the Northeast” due to the pleasant air and environment.

A large part of forests in that area has been encroached upon. The problem has existed for a long time and is unlikely to be solved in the near future. Many pieces of state land and forest have been held illegally, and the problem has worsened over recent years, which has seen a land and tourism boom in that area. 

Despite legal action against them, several business operators still refuse to close down their businesses that are accused of forest encroachment. They can still enjoy good business thanks to support from customers who don’t know about this. Those defiant law-breaking businesses still believe in the power of their money.

The authorities responsible for this issue, particularly Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan, as well as Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Peetipong Phuengbun na Ayutthaya, should pay more attention to the problem of forest encroachment and illegal holding of state land. 

The problem should be tackled seriously or Thai forests and wildlife will become history in a not-so-distant future.