Ex-park chief wants forest deal probe

A former National Park Office director has called on the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to investigate bidding price collusion which he says took place in a 15.9 million baht reforestation project at Kaeng Krachan National Park.

Samak Donnapi, the former director, yesterday submitted a petition with the DSI urging it to investigate the 2011 project.

He said he petitioned the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation seven months ago with the allegation, but there has been no progress in the department's probe into the case.

"The department is required under its own regulations to complete an investigation within 30 days, but seven months have now passed now," he said.

The park had requested 15.9 million baht to fund the reforestation of a piece of land in a 4,200 rai area as part of a project to mark the 84th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, he said.

The project was said to require 200 seedlings to fully regrow the supposedly missing forest area, but in reality there was no missing forest land in the area that had been earmarked in the proposal, he said.

He cited an aerial image of the project site taken from the Google Map application.

The area was actually virgin forest surrounded by mountains, which normally takes three days to reach on foot, he said.

He had spoken to a number of Karen people living in a community closest to the reforestation site and no one there was aware of anyone having been hired to carry seedlings to be grown there, said Mr Samak.

His petition for a probe will be forwarded to the DSI's Region 7 office for consideration.

Meanwhile, Surachai Yutthachana, head of Nakhon Ratchasima's agricultural land reform office, said people unlawfully occupying two plots of land in Wang Nam Khieo district of Nakhon Ratchasima province designated for poor farmers have been given 15 days to stake a claim on them.

If they fail to present a valid reason on why they should be allowed to use the plots, the land will be seized and returned to the office, he said.

One plot is about 103 rai, while the other measures 279 rai.