DNP ordered to pay for ousting Karen villagers

The court mandated that Bt10,000 be paid to damaged parties within 30 days in compensation for their houses and rice-storage structures being burnt down in Petchaburi’s Kaeng Krachan district.

Villagers from Ban Pongluek-Bang Kloi, the Lawyers Council of Thailand and the National Human Rights Commission filed a lawsuit in 2011 against the DNP and its former chief Chaiwat Limlikitaksorn alleging that villagers’ homes had been burnt down to force them out of the area. 

A source said police had filed a petition with the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PSACC) to probe Chaiwat and others for abuse of authority in regards to the alleged arson.

PSACC secretary general Prayong Preeyajit said he would appoint an investigative team to probe the allegations by next month.

Police said they suspected Chaiwat and others had violated Article 157 of the Criminal Code by committing arson.

Thanu Ekchot, the villagers’ lawyer, said he would consult with his legal team over whether to appeal the ruling.

Meanwhile, Chaiwat said the court verdict showed that park officials had acted in accordance with the law. 

He also dismissed the validity of evidence presented by the Lawyers Council and the Rights Commission, who had presented the court with pictures of the area in question. He added that the groups had claimed to travel to the area in a three-day round trip, when the round trip would actually take eight days. Chaiwat said he would seek justice over the matter.

The Karen villagers claim that they have inhabited the |area for years, and not encroached on it recently as the DNP alleges.

Thanu said his team demanded Bt1 million in compensation for violations of the villagers’ human rights and destruction of their assets and homes.