Judiciary reconfirms to let PM decide on Doi Suthep housing controversy

The Office of Judiciary has reconfirmed the resolution of the judiciary administration committee to let Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha to decide whether to keep or demolish the controversial housing project of the Region 5 Appeals Court judges and officials at the foot of Doi Suthep mountain in Mae Rim district of Chiang Mai.

Spokesman of the Office of Judiciary, Mr Suriyan Hongwilai, said that the matter was within the authority of the government to decide and the Office of the Judiciary would be ready to accept the decision.

He stressed that the Office of Judiciary has no policy or idea to engage in a conflict with the people, but just would like the people to act within the framework of the law and to have mutual respect with the judiciary.

Members of the civil society in Chiang Mai held a protest against the construction project at Tha Phae gate and the statue of three former Lanna kings on Sunday.

They planned to stage another protest next week awaiting for the answer from prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as their demand that the housing units should be demolished and to restore the construction area to its former status of being forest.