Forestry Dept. Raids Mae Yom Riverbanks for Encroachment and Illegal Mining
Khaosod•Society•
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Key Quotes
"The Mekong and Salween Rivers originate from clean Himalayan snow, yet are now contaminated to dangerous levels for humans. Therefore, the clean water sources we have must be best preserved; do not allow encroachment or destruction."
แม่น้ำโขง แม่น้ำสาละวิน กำเนิดจากหิมะใสสะอาดที่หิมาลัย วันนี้กลับต้องปนเปื้อนในระดับที่เป็นอันตรายต่อมนุษย์ ดังนั้นแหล่งน้ำสะอาดที่เรามีอยู่ในตอนนี้ต้องรักษาไว้ให้ดีที่สุด อย่าให้เกิดการรุกล้ำหรือทำลายได้
Key Entities
Organization
Forestry and National Parks Department(ป่าไม้-อุทยานฯ)
State agency responsible for forest and national park management in Thailand, which conducted an inspection of alleged encroachment and illegal mining.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE)(ทส.)
The Thai government ministry overseeing natural resources and environmental affairs, under which the inspected areas fall.
Department of Forest Resources Management, Mae Hong Son Branch 1(สำนักจัดการทรัพยากรป่าไม้ที่ 1 สาขาแม่ฮ่องสอน)
A regional office of the Thai Forestry Department responsible for managing forest resources in Mae Hong Son province.
Forest Protection Unit MS6 (Sop Moei)(หน่วยป้องกันรักษาป่าที่ มส 6 (สบเมย))
A specific forest protection unit operating in the Sop Moei district of Mae Hong Son, which was involved in investigating illegal mining allegations.
Sop Moei Forest Protection and Development Unit(หน่วยป้องกันและพัฒนาป่าไม้สบเมย)
A unit focused on forest protection and development in Sop Moei, Mae Hong Son, participating in the joint inspection.
Mae Ngau National Park (Preparatory)(อุทยานแห่งชาติแม่เงา (เตรียมการ))
A national park in Mae Hong Son, currently in the preparatory stage, whose staff participated in the inspection and surveillance.
Protected Area Administration Office 16 (Mae Sariang Branch)(สำนักบริหารพื้นที่อนุรักษ์ที่ 16 (สาขาแม่สะเรียง))
A regional administrative office overseeing protected areas, including Mae Ngau National Park, participating in the inspection.
People's Network of the Mae Yom, Ngao, Mei, and Salawin River Basins, Mae Hong Son Province(เครือข่ายประชาชนลุ่มน้ำยวม เงา เมย สาละวิน จ.แม่ฮ่องสอน)
A local community group that raised concerns and filed a complaint regarding private encroachment and illegal mining activities in their area.
Rivers and Rights
An environmental organization focused on water resources and rights, whose representative provided expert commentary on the issues.
An international organization whose recent report on global water scarcity was cited by Ms. Piamporn Deetes as a reason to protect local water resources.
An ethnic group, including Karen people, who have historically contributed to forest conservation in the border region of Mae Hong Son and Tak.
Place
A river in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand, along whose banks encroachment and alleged illegal mining activities were investigated.
Huai Kung(ห้วยกุ้ง)
A significant shrimp habitat along the Mae Yom River that has been allegedly encroached upon and occupied by a private entity.
A district in Mae Hong Son province where illegal mining and land encroachment activities were reported and investigated.
A district in Tak province bordering Sop Moei, Mae Hong Son, part of the area under investigation for protected forest encroachment.
Mae Nam Yom Right Bank(แม่น้ำยวมฝั่งขวา)
The right bank of the Mae Nam Yom river, designated as a national forest reserve, where illegal mining activities were reportedly occurring.
Ban Ti Ya Per, Village No. 8, Sop Moei Subdistrict(บ้านทียาเพอ หมู่ที่ 8 ตำบลสบเมย)
A specific location in Sop Moei, Mae Hong Son, where an illegal wolfram mining tunnel was found within the national forest reserve.
A river in Mae Hong Son and Tak province, forming part of the border with Myanmar, mentioned as a crucial water source needing conservation.
Mae Ngao River(แม่น้ำเงา)
A river in Mae Hong Son province, mentioned as a crucial water source needing conservation.
Person
Suchart Chomklin(นายสุชาติ ชมกลิ่น)
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand, to whom a complaint about land encroachment was addressed.
Ms. Piamporn Deetes(นส.เพียรพร ดีเทศน์)
An executive committee member of Rivers and Rights, an environmental organization, who commented on water contamination and the importance of preserving clean water sources.
Law
A metallic element (Tungsten) that was allegedly being illegally mined in a deep tunnel within a protected forest area.
Mine Concession Permit MS0014.3/4111(ประทานบัตรที่ มส0014. 3/4111)
A permit number associated with mining activities at the investigated site, dated May 19, 2017, which authorities were examining.