Prayut orders talks to resolve Doi Suthep residences row

Teerasak Rupsuwan, co-ordinator of the Network to Reclaim Doi Suthep Forest, said yesterday that his group was invited to attend negotiationsat the 33rd Military Circle. 
“The talks will start at 9.30am on April 9,” he said, citing information from Major Sopon Phakkasem. 
Teerasak said, however, that he was still waiting for the military to issue a written invitation as he was concerned that the talks would collapse again. 
A similar session was cancelled earlier this week because the representatives of the Court of Appeals Region 5 refused to attend. 
Prayut intervened after the Network to Reclaim Doi Suthep Forest unveiled a plan to stage a big rally in Chiang Mai on Sunday and to petition the King later, after the meeting was called off. 

Members of the network are unhappy that the ongoing construction of court officials’ residences has eaten into Doi Suthep forestland. The construction site is very close to the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park.
Built under a Bt1 billion budget, the construction project involves nine homes for court presidents, 36 homes for chief justices, and 13 apartment buildings for court officials. 
Teerasak believed the presidents of courts should announce a decision to relinquish their right to stay in the residences to pave the way for their demolition. 
The construction is now almost complete. 

Assoc Professor Somchai Preechasinlapakun, who teaches at the Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Laws, urged relevant authorities to release any information related to the controversial project to the public. 
“For example, make clear about the slope of the construction site and say if environmental impacts have been assessed,” Somchai said. 
His faculty also released a statement yesterday recommending that the construction work be suspended until information becomes clearer. 
Campaigns against the residences at the foot of Doi Suthep have gained momentum. Many people have started tying and wearing green ribbons to back the campaigns. Among them is jazz musician Pharadon Phonamnuai, who has handed out free green ribbons.
 Some opponents of the construction began a march from Chiang Mai to Bangkok yesterday. The march was allowed to go ahead only after participants said it was for overall forest protection, not specifically about the construction of court officials’ residences in Chiang Mai.