Doi Suthep forest protection groups demand eviction of judicial officials from foothill condominium

Representatives of Chiang Mai’s forest protection groups will on Tuesday submit a letter to the Region 5 Appeals Court, demanding the eviction of some 30 families of judicial officials from a condominium at the court’s housing project at Doi Suthep foothill in Mae Rim district.

The groups will also demand the Region 5 Appeals Court to suspend all the construction work at the site after the expiration of the construction contract on Monday under which the constructor was to hand over all the construction works to the court.

Mr Thirasak Roopsuwan, a coordinator of the groups, said Monday that they expected an answer to their demands in 10 days, failing that they would stage another rally to demand the Office of Judicial Affairs to comply with its pledge to vacate the housing project and to restore the land to its former status as forest reserve.

Prime Minister’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tantyuwattana said that he had instructed Chiang Mai governor and the military to coordinate with the people’s sector to try to work out a solution to the dispute based on public interest, mutual understanding and sympathy and taking into consideration legal and environmental aspects.