A court official claims no order to suspend construction of judges’ housing project

Construction of the housing project for judges at the foot of Doi Suthep in Mae Rim district of Chiang Mai is going on as usual despite an order from Army Commander-in-Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart to put the project on hold pending further examination of the project.

Ms Nittaya Watanachivakul, secretary of Region 5 Appeals Court, has maintained that there was not any order to stop or suspend the construction of housing project for judges of Region 5 Appeals Court.

She told the media on Wednesday that Maj-Gen Sathit Srisuwan, commander of the Chiang Mai-based 33rd Army Circle, in his capacity as the chief of the peace-keeping force in Chiang Mai visited the construction site at the foot of Doi Suthep mountain in Tambon Don Kaew on Wednesday.

She claimed that Maj-Gen Sathit made inquiries about the rehabilitation of the area at the construction site to restore green area, adding that the army officer expressed concern with a talking forum planned this Saturday by civic groups and academics about the housing project and their demand to reclaim the project land.

Ms Nittaya claimed that there was no order for the housing project to be suspended or scrappede and Maj-Gen Sathit did not request for a meeting with the president of Region 5 Appeals Court.

Region 5 Appeals Court president Mr Sawat Surawattananant expressed his optimism that protest against the project by civic and environment groups would not be blown out of proportion and that there was no need to ask for police protection.

He, however, said that he had a discussion this morning (Thursday) with officials of Chiang Mai’s forest office, watershed management unit and lecturers from Mae Jo University about landscaping and restoration of forest cover on a 89-rai land plot.