PHUKET: The Director of Phuket's Sirinath National Park has called on the Royal Thai Navy to protect him and to probe claims that he is a target for hired professional killers.
Appointed earlier this year to replace a director who faced too much intimidation, Kitipat Tarapiban told the Navy that the owners of several beach restaurants had allegedly ordered him ''hit.''
''I immediately reported the matter to Royal Thai Navy 3,'' Khun Kitipat told Phuketwan today. ''Two days ago, the suspect was arrested and taken to an Army base. He was charged and is now out on bail.''
Khun Kitipat said he has been provided with fulltime Navy bodyguards.
''They called my office and told my staff they were going to kill me,'' Khun Kitipat said. ''Another person told us they had five M16s ready.''
Informers told him that two professional gunmen, one from Nakhon Si Thammarat and the other from Surat Thani, had been hired to take him out.
Khun Kitipat went to the Navy rather than police, fearing that efforts could be made to fulfill the contract killing as he walked the quieter trails of the controversial national park.
On August 14, officials are due to demolish some restaurants in the park's area. Others are set for demolition on August 22. Both moves are to follow court orders dismissing claims that the restaurants are legal.
Khun Kitipat's predecessor as park director, Cheewapad Cheewatam, moved to Bangkok after alleged intimidation over claims of encroachment on the borders of Sirinath.
Khun Cheewapad, now Chief of Preservation-Protection at the Royal Forest Department, returned to Phuket last week with the department's Director General, Theerapat Prayurasiddhi.
They were investigating fresh allegations of encroachment on public land by a resort on Phuket's 'Millionaire's Mile' at Kamala.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Department of Special Investigation have also been called in to probe widening allegations that corrupt officials have been involved in creating fake land titles along the borders of the park.
In an unrelated move, the large Rim Haad restaurant on Koh Sireh, east of Phuket City, has been given seven days to be cleared of furniture and equipment.
The owner has asked the Army to tell him ''when we are going to be allowed to move back.'' He says he has operated the restaurant for 30 years and pays all taxes.
Appointed earlier this year to replace a director who faced too much intimidation, Kitipat Tarapiban told the Navy that the owners of several beach restaurants had allegedly ordered him ''hit.''
''I immediately reported the matter to Royal Thai Navy 3,'' Khun Kitipat told Phuketwan today. ''Two days ago, the suspect was arrested and taken to an Army base. He was charged and is now out on bail.''
Khun Kitipat said he has been provided with fulltime Navy bodyguards.
''They called my office and told my staff they were going to kill me,'' Khun Kitipat said. ''Another person told us they had five M16s ready.''
Informers told him that two professional gunmen, one from Nakhon Si Thammarat and the other from Surat Thani, had been hired to take him out.
Khun Kitipat went to the Navy rather than police, fearing that efforts could be made to fulfill the contract killing as he walked the quieter trails of the controversial national park.
On August 14, officials are due to demolish some restaurants in the park's area. Others are set for demolition on August 22. Both moves are to follow court orders dismissing claims that the restaurants are legal.
Khun Kitipat's predecessor as park director, Cheewapad Cheewatam, moved to Bangkok after alleged intimidation over claims of encroachment on the borders of Sirinath.
Khun Cheewapad, now Chief of Preservation-Protection at the Royal Forest Department, returned to Phuket last week with the department's Director General, Theerapat Prayurasiddhi.
They were investigating fresh allegations of encroachment on public land by a resort on Phuket's 'Millionaire's Mile' at Kamala.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Department of Special Investigation have also been called in to probe widening allegations that corrupt officials have been involved in creating fake land titles along the borders of the park.
In an unrelated move, the large Rim Haad restaurant on Koh Sireh, east of Phuket City, has been given seven days to be cleared of furniture and equipment.
The owner has asked the Army to tell him ''when we are going to be allowed to move back.'' He says he has operated the restaurant for 30 years and pays all taxes.
and this is what its all coming to......I'm sure more people will be threatened as well...Stay Strong!
Posted by sky on August 3, 2014 14:44