THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Forest department to probe land bought by Buddha Issara

Forest department to probe land bought by Buddha Issara

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 yesterday 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. 
Somsak said he still did not have enough information on the issue, and that it would have to be investigated first before steps in compliance with law are taken. Meanwhile, an official from the Forest Fire Control Division of Forest Resource Management Office 1 (Chiang Mai) confirmed the existence of the disputed plot. The 315-rai plot is situated in Ban Wang Papun village opposite Tambon Mae Win Administrative Organisation and was occupied by locals since 1953. The source said Wat Ao Noi’s Dhamma Buddha Issara Foundation and Prukesawet Company had bought the plot from 20 individuals, who were civil servants and local people, for an unspecified sum of money. 
Somsak said the officials will check to see how the land was bought and the findings will then be presented to the Chiang Mai governor, who can then take away the land-rights of the 20 individuals because they had violated the law by selling the plot. This land will then be returned to RFD. If there is any construction on the land, then the department will inspect it carefully and take action based on the law.
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