Deputy minister denies encroaching on forest land
Deputy Minister of Education Kanokwan Wilawan has denied accusations of deforesting with excavators on Khao Yai National Park land even as the Department of Lands has been ordered to investigate the alleged violation.
The minister said on Saturday (January 18) that the land belongs to her family and they had got the legal rights from the Department of Lands. She said she was ready to collaborate with officials to clarify the accusation.
The Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) had earlier arrested a group of excavator drivers deforesting on Khao Yai National Park’s land in Prachinburi province and had learned of the involvement of some local politicians.
Isoc filed a case of encroachment of forest land, occupying a forest area and violation of the land, prompting the director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Thanya Netithammakun, to order the Department of Lands to investigate the accusations.
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