PHUKET: The massive ''14 plus 366'' investigation into parkland encroachment on Phuket appears to have slowed because of internal politics and lack of direction.
The probe into fourteen resort and villa properties that border Phuket's Sirinath National Park was extended to include another 366 suspicious real estate plots.
But now The Phuket park's director, Cheewapab Cheewatam, has said the plan to send about 800 investigators to Phuket has been postponed.
The teams of rangers have been trained in Bangkok but the plan for them to investigate the Phuket plots is on-hold, Khun Cheewapab said yesterday.
''The project has slowed down, it has not been cancelled,'' he said.
A rift inside the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has basically meant that there is no formal successor yet to Damrong ''The Demolisher'' Pidech who went into retirement after driving a rapid-fire investigation into parkland theft.
However, a departmental legal team involved in verifying the accuracy of information compiled in the original 14 investigations did visit Phuket last week, he said.
Because of the delay in appointing a successor to ''The Demolisher'' - Prime Minister Yinglusk Shinawatra has proposed her candidate while the department's officers prefer Khun Damrong's deputy - direct action has been suspended.
There are practical considerations, too. Accommodation has somehow to be found in Sirinath National Park for the descending investigation teams.
Khun Cheewapab remains resolute about the campaign.
''If we can't continue with the 14 plus 366 it would be a very bad thing,'' he said.
''Sirinath Park is plainly at risk, surrounded as it is by valuable properties on Phuket. It is under atack left, right and centre.
''A just outcome would see the parkland fully restored and a 'Phuket model' applied at other national parks throughout Thailand to save them, too.
''The prospect of losing Thailand's natural heritage because of greed and corruption should keep more people awake at night.''
Investigators have been at pains to point out that the individuals and resort brands now linked to contentious Phuket properties may have been innocent victims of historical skulduggery and deceit.
The probe into fourteen resort and villa properties that border Phuket's Sirinath National Park was extended to include another 366 suspicious real estate plots.
But now The Phuket park's director, Cheewapab Cheewatam, has said the plan to send about 800 investigators to Phuket has been postponed.
The teams of rangers have been trained in Bangkok but the plan for them to investigate the Phuket plots is on-hold, Khun Cheewapab said yesterday.
''The project has slowed down, it has not been cancelled,'' he said.
A rift inside the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has basically meant that there is no formal successor yet to Damrong ''The Demolisher'' Pidech who went into retirement after driving a rapid-fire investigation into parkland theft.
However, a departmental legal team involved in verifying the accuracy of information compiled in the original 14 investigations did visit Phuket last week, he said.
Because of the delay in appointing a successor to ''The Demolisher'' - Prime Minister Yinglusk Shinawatra has proposed her candidate while the department's officers prefer Khun Damrong's deputy - direct action has been suspended.
There are practical considerations, too. Accommodation has somehow to be found in Sirinath National Park for the descending investigation teams.
Khun Cheewapab remains resolute about the campaign.
''If we can't continue with the 14 plus 366 it would be a very bad thing,'' he said.
''Sirinath Park is plainly at risk, surrounded as it is by valuable properties on Phuket. It is under atack left, right and centre.
''A just outcome would see the parkland fully restored and a 'Phuket model' applied at other national parks throughout Thailand to save them, too.
''The prospect of losing Thailand's natural heritage because of greed and corruption should keep more people awake at night.''
Investigators have been at pains to point out that the individuals and resort brands now linked to contentious Phuket properties may have been innocent victims of historical skulduggery and deceit.
Unfortunately with the retirement of the 'Demolisher' this isn't unexpected. A shame as progress seemed to be happening for a change. Hopefully this will be resolved soon and they can get on with the job.
Posted by Mister Ree on November 3, 2012 17:17