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Ethnic group’s non-Thai ID cards challenged by villagers
Local headman accused of dishonesty
Protesting members of Moo 2,
Wiang Haeng’s village committee,
shown examining the letter of complaint.
As many as 600 members of ethnic groups resident in Wiang
Haeng sub-district who were recently issued with non-Thai ID cards allowing
them to seek work are having their status challenged by their local district
administrative organisation on the grounds that the majority of the
documents were issued illegally without the necessary approval of local Thai
residents.
Kham Toonlah, a member of Wiang Haeng’s Moo 2 local organisation, together
with 5 other committee members, handed in a letter of complaint addressed to
the governor of Chiang Mai province, Wibun Sa-nguanphong, who was, at the
time, away on official duties. Villagers’ complaints were based on two
issues, firstly, the issuing of non-Thai ID cards to 513 immigrants, claimed
to have been done illegally and dishonestly by the village headman,
Chakrapong Chariya and two others, as villagers were not consulted.
Consultation and voting had previously taken place concerning 72 other
successful applications. Secondly, Thai residents in Wiang Haeng
sub-district number 20,000; it was claimed that currently a further 50,000
immigrant’s names had been registered for processing in the district.
Villagers’ concerns expressed in the letter include the possible, but not
confirmed, destruction of forest areas in order to provide homes, and the
possibility of expanding areas being given over to business premises in
order to provide work. There are also concerns about droughts in the area as
a result of over-population. The letter requests that the government
reconsiders the list of registered names with a view to the possible impact
on the local environment.
Alarming results of major Unesco/
Bureau of Social Development survey
3 million northern Hill Tribe and stateless people living in poverty
A major survey, carried out over three years by the Bureau of Social
Development and Unesco amongst residents of 192 villages in Chiang Mai,
Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son provinces has revealed that the lack of
citizenship and ID cards is the main reason why up to 3 million Hill Tribe
and stateless people are living in abject poverty, lacking access to
education, health care, the right to buy land, and the right to vote. During
the survey, over 63,000 people in the north were interviewed by a team of
researchers, who were forbidden to enter a further 700 villages situated in
military zones along the Thai/Burmese border.
David Feingold, an anthropologist and expert in the study of human
trafficking, states that lack of citizenship and proof of identity makes
Hill Tribe people particularly vulnerable to human trafficking and
exploitation. Hill Tribe men are often driven to commit crimes such as
drug-smuggling due to their inability to travel and find work to support
their families, he says. Many long- time migrants have never been registered
because the original surveys were never carried out in the hills, and many
policies were not translated into other languages, leading to lack of
understanding amongst migrants and long-term residents as to their rights.
According to former Chiang Rai Province senator Tuenjai Deetes, the problem
has been recognised by previous administrations, but there had been
difficulties in determining between new arrivals from Burma and tribal
people whose families had lived in Thailand for generations. Tuenjai said,
in addition, that the laws were complex and some officials “had bad
attitudes”. However, since 2006, 50,000 ethnic students have been given ID
card so that they can attend school and travel to different areas to study.
A key problem would seem to be that tribal people are not aware of their
rights.
Chutima Morlae-kul, an Akha expert on legal status and minority rights, has
suggested the government hold seminars for officials in order to train them
in professional and objective conduct. She states that officials often allow
their personal feelings to interfere with their jobs.
Even when there are legal grounds, citizenship can take up to 10 years to
achieve, causing many to simply give up and resort to male or female
prostitution. “Without citizenship there is nothing else we can do; all
other roads are closed”, Chutima said.
Thieves concentrate on estate houses
Three drug addicts used cash to feed their habits
A Thai couple and their Burmese friend who had
concentrated on robbing houses on estates after residents went out for the
evening were arrested July 29 by Region 5 police. Chao Panyawongse, 34, of
Chiang Mai Kittiphong Singku, 33, of Lamphun and Mun, 19, of Burma, who
admitted to 10 burglaries undertaken to feed their drug habits, were caught
in possession of a Canon camera with lens, flash and bag, a Dell Inspiron
notebook, a Nokia mobile phone, a Seiko wristwatch, a Yamaha motorcycle and
two amphetamine pills.
 The
three accused, pictured as the owner identifies his stolen items.
The three drove around at night, looking for empty houses to rob; two
climbed over walls and broke in and the third waited outside to warn his
accomplices by phone of any danger. The stolen items were sold to pawn shops
in the city’s moat roads and the money was used to buy drugs and visit
entertainment complexes.
The seized items were stolen from the Lanna Park Village home of Peter Wolk,
(65) a retiree from the USA, who had contacted police to inform them of the
burglary. He was surprised to receive a phone call asking him to come and
identify his property the next day, and stated that he was very impressed
with the prompt arrest of the culprits.
Avian flu concern prompts
prevention drills in Mae Hong Son
Refugee camps to be monitored
Kajohn Boonpath
Although the province’s birds are at present virus-free, increasing
concern in Mae Hong Son that the disease may be introduced from Burma has
resulted in a raft of preventative checks and measures being implemented.
Concern is focused on the refugee camps along the border, as the numbers
fleeing from persecution are increasing and more are being moved into the
camps, often bringing their livestock with them. World Health Organisation
reports of outbreaks in neighbouring countries are also on the increase.
Preventative measures which will be carried out at Ban Nai Soi and Ban Mai
Mae Surin refugee camps include monthly spraying of the localities, and all
livestock delivered to the camps will undergo rigorous testing before it can
be certified as disease-free by the Livestock and Public Health Departments.
If unexplained livestock deaths occur, inspectors will be sent in to
discover the causes.
Phongdaech Thipdaech, Mae Hong Son District Chief, chaired a meeting on July
29 of local and provincial government authorities, at which Avian Flu
prevention drills were presented by Chamlong Ariyachak of the Mae Hong Son
Livestock Department. Tourist promotions are being undertaken, guaranteeing
the safety of foreign visitors by certifying that the province is
virus-free.
Driver’s narrow escape as car catches fire
LPG gas installation is blamed
A cost-conscious motorist from San Sai, Somchai Klasuthirang, (48), received
an unpleasant shock when his Volvo, recently modified to burn LPG gas,
erupted into flames as he was driving into town. The police, who had been
called by Somchai after he had put a safe distance between himself and the
fire, arrived to find a team of rescuers attempting to put out the fire,
which was contained in the car’s engine compartment. After 20 minutes using
chemical extinguishers, the volunteers managed to extinguish the flames;
however, it soon became clear that the engine had been badly damaged. The
likely culprit, of course, is the LPG gas tank installation. Poor Somchai
could now be thinking that a few more baht per kilometre would have been
cheaper than a new car or a new engine!
Chiang Mai company donates
rice seeds and tents to Burma
Bantoon Jirawattanakoon, the CEO of Chiang Mai Thanathon Ltd, with his
wife Saijit, journeyed to Mayangon township, Burma on August 2 to donate
1500 baskets of rice paddy strain seeds and 100 tents to the victims of
Cyclone Nargis. The generous gift was received at the town’s Fire
Service Department’s head office by Brigadier-General Kyaw Myint, the
Junta’s Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, on
behalf of the Cash and Kind Accepting and Supervisory Committee. Kyaw
later presented certificates of honour and his thanks to the couple.
CM Zoo’s giant new aquarium causes environmental concern
Exploitation of marine animals to bring in the tourist dollar
The giant new tunnel aquarium at Chiang Mai Zoo, due to open in October,
is a cause of growing concern amongst environmentalists worldwide over
the issue of exploitation of marine animals to benefit the tourism
industry. Over 8,000 species of marine life are expected to be housed in
the huge structure, which is being built by the Zoological Park
Organisation, (ZPO). A ZPO spokesman recently reported that the aquarium
is 95 % complete, and promises to become a major attraction for both
foreign and Thai visitors.
The project was started during Thaksin’s premiership, and is a joint
operation between the Thai government and an Australian company, Marine
Scape, which will be in charge of its management and the selection of
marine inhabitants it will contain.
The Thai authorities, is has been reported, do not have the skills
necessary to undertake responsibility for such a large installation. 60%
of profits made will go to Marine Scape; the remainder to the Thai
government.
However, marine wildlife advocate Nikhom Puttha has stated the growth of
aquariums as a tourist attraction is posing a serious threat both to the
survival of marine life in its natural habitat and to the ecological
systems which depend on a balance between species. He rejects Marine
Scape’s claim that breeding farms will be able to sustain the aquarium,
and notes that the original breeding stock will have to come from the
wild, mentioning that marine parks worldwide have reported a decline in
exotic marine life in its natural habitat during the past several years.
He suspects that the cause may be that many have been captured and sold
to aquariums across South-East Asia.
Nikhom accuses aquariums and zoos of focusing on the tourist dollar
rather than on the welfare of the animals in their care, and of missing
out on educational opportunities, the creation of environmental
awareness, and the protection of endangered species. In reply, the ZPO
chief said that at least 90% of the species on show would be local and
not protected, and that imported species would need to have the correct
certification to prove that they had been legally obtained and not from
the wild.
Night Safari success
in breeding Bactrian camel
Species critically at risk in the wild
Saksit Meesubkwang/Elena Edwards
At a recent news conference held at Chiang Mai Night Safari,
veterinarian Chatree Kuhatheparak announced the birth of a rare bay
Bactrian camel, the first successful birth in Thailand. The baby has
been named Sai Nam and was born to Sai Fon, its 12 year old mother, and
Sai Fa, its 9 year old father. At present, baby Sai Nam is being cared
for in the Night Safari’s Animal Hospital’s nursery, where it will
remain for one year before being released back into the fold. According
to Chatree, Sai Nam’s weight has rapidly increased since birth to 52.4
kilos. The team of veterinarians is understandably overjoyed at the
birth!
 Pictured
here with Chatree Kuhatheparak is the cute baby Bactrian camel recently
born at Chiang Mai Night Safari.
The two-humped Bactrian camel, (Camelus bactrianus), is native to the
steppes of North-Eastern Asia, and is one of the two surviving species
of camel, the other being the well-known single-humped Arabian
dromedary. Nearly all of the 1.4 million Bactrian camels alive today are
domesticated—less than a thousand are known to be living in the wild in
north-west China and Mongolia; as a result the species has been placed
on the critically endangered list. In 2007, the Edge Project, led by the
Zoological Society of London, identified the Bactrian camel as being one
of the 10 most “at risk” mammals, all of which are now the focus of a
unique conservation effort being undertaken by British scientists. The
Edge Project is the first global-scale programme specifically developed
to focus on one-of -a -kind critically threatened animals in the wild,
and is working to protect some of the world’s most extraordinary
species. The domesticated Bactrian camel is on the verge of extinction
in India.
Last suspect in attempted murder of Chiang Mai editor arrested
Gang hired to kill prominent newspaperman in 2000
Special investigation team police officers from region 5 arrested Chan
Paomongkhon (53), wanted since the year 2000 for the attempted murder of
Amnaj Jongyosying, editor/owner of the Northern Thailand Newspaper, and
chairman of the Chiang Mai Journalist Association. Amnaj, who had been
reporting corruption in the Provincial Administration Organisation in
his newspaper, was shot and seriously injured in April 2000 by a gang
hired to kill him. Three of the gang, Sgt. Suchon Sueprem, Sgt.
 Amnay
Jomyosying, owner/editor of the Northern
Thailand News, the victim of the attempted murder.
Pongsakorn Inthong and Sgt. Maj. Wannapoj Wannawut, all of whom were
members of the military, had been arrested earlier; a fourth, Prapan
Kladsombat, was finally arrested in the Chang Puak area earlier this
year. Suchon, Pongsakorn and Wannapj were brought to trial; after 2
years the case was dismissed and the suspects released due to “lack of
evidence”, as the instigators were not identified by the accused— a
decision which, at present, is under appeal.
After his arrest, Chan Paomongkhon stated that he had been on the run
for 9 years, mostly hiding out and working in gambling shops and
casinos, first in Bangkok and later in Cambodia. When the Cambodian
casino had closed due to the crisis regarding Preah Vihear, he had
decided to surrender to the police. He denied being an accomplice in
Amnaj’s attempted murder, and said he was determined to clear his name.
Chan stated that he had only been hiding to avoid being killed on
discovery by the Thai police as he had been incorrectly branded the most
wanted gunman in the region.
Biggest ever meth seizure; Ayutthaya drugs bust; link to Red Wa broken
Police, pictured with the huge haul of drugs
seized
after the arresat of Afa and Somsri Saenleaw.
Saksit Meesubkwang/CMM Reporters
Chiang Mai police have made Thailand’s biggest ever haul of crystal
methamphetamine, seizing 10 kilogrammes of the illegal drug commonly
called ‘’ice’’, as well as 370,000 speed pills. A married Lisu couple,
Afa and Somsri Saenleaw from Chiang Dao, were arrested in the bust,
according to Police Region 5 commissioner Sathaporn Duangkaew. Three
vehicles, a bank account worth over one million baht, and 390,000 baht
in cash were also seized, together with 70 million baht’s worth of
assets including 4 houses, 97 cows, jewelry and watches. The couple
denied any involvement in the drug trade. Sathaporn said the crystal
meth seizure was Thailand’s biggest ever and that the two suspects
belonged to a major drug trafficking gang. The route of the drugs out of
Thailand is believed to have been through an agent in Bangkok; the
destination is thought to have been Taiwan. Information received
suggests that there may be another 1 million methamphetamine pills yet
to be found in the Mae Taeng area.
In Ayutthaya province, more than 10,000 speed pills were seized during a
two-day crime crackdown in 16 districts. More than 100 suspects were
held on charges ranging from drug dealing and robbery to illegal
possession of firearms.
A drugs bust in Chonburi last week netted three traffickers suspected of
being linked to Red Wa suppliers, together with 294,000 “speed” pills
and assets worth more than 5 million baht. Thanakorn Nontyos, Puek Saeti
and Piya Supaejit were arrested on their way from Chiang Mai to dealers
in the province. Speaking at a press conference, Pol Lt-Gen Wut
Liptapallop, commander of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, confirmed
that Thanakorn was a major player in the Red Wa drug distribution
network
New Green Project announced at Mayor’s monthly meeting
Use of vacant land will encourage self-sufficiency
A project to encourage the use of all spare and vacant land within the
city for growing indigenous herbs, flowers and other plants was
announced at the most recent of the Mayor of Chiang Mai’s monthly
meeting with residents, held August 5.
The meeting began with a light buffet meal of Pad Thai and fruit for all
attendees; from then on it was “standing room only” in the meeting hall,
as numbers were up to 135, 15 of whom were foreign residents. Several
representatives of various local organisations stood to ask questions;
to the relief of the farang attendees, a translator provided a resume
after each question and answer. Amongst the subjects discussed were the
appearance of the city, a design contest to regenerate some of the
city’s Lanna buildings, a one-way traffic system on the old city,
problems with wheelchair access on sidewalks if trees are planted, and
the state of the paving in the Walking Street. The answer to this last
issue was given by the Mayor, in that, as there are not enough municipal
workers to deal with what is considered an urgent job, a budget will
have to be allocated in order to use a private company. The large buses
which are causing a great deal of traffic congestion will, according to
the Mayor, be removed, and an attempt by a representative with a slide
show who tried to compare the Wararot Market area with a similar area in
Germany, was gently rebuffed with the words, “It’s like comparing apples
with oranges”! It was also mentioned that, at present, there are “areas
of conflict” within the local authority, which are causing problems
getting things done.
The last item on the agenda was Khun Boong’s presentation of the new
project, which will involve the cooperation of Chiang Mai Municipality,
Chiang Mai Friends group and local companies. The main aim is to enable
low- income individuals to plant indigenous herbs, flowers and other
plants on unused ground in schools, temples and on both private and
public land in the Municipal areas. The principle of self-sufficiency
can thus be supported, together with environmental improvement. An
initial one –year duration with a three month test period to be carried
out, is proposed. It is hoped that hotels, restaurants, international
schools, etc, will purchase the products as part of their community
service activities, and booths at various events and organic markets
could also be used. Low-income growers will be offered loans from the
project, which they will be expected to pay back at the end of the first
year. During the second year of the project, regular growers will be
expected to rent the land. Product quality control will be carried out
by the Royal Project Foundation and Chiang Mai and Maejo universities;
the produce will then be packed and labelled as organic.
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