Forest Department to probe land bought by activist monk
THE ROYAL Forest Department (RFD) has said it does not have details of the forestland allegedly purchased by Buddha Issara, but insisted that if it is found to be encroaching on forest preserves, it would have to be returned.
At the Forest Resource Management Office 1 (Chiang Mai), RFD inspector Somsak Rengpian disclosed Wednesday that the department did not have details of the 315-rai of forestland in Tambon Mae Win of Chiang Mai’s Mae Wang district that was bought by the activist monk Buddha Issara. He also said it would take time for the officials to examine the details.
This controversy has caught public interest since news of the monk, who hails from Wat Ao Noi Temple in Nakhon Pathom, occupying forested land in Mae Khan and Mae Wang preserves went viral online.
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