The case was brought to court by 105-year-old Karen spiritual leader Ko-ee Mimee in tambon Huay Mae Preang of Phetchaburi's Kang Krachan district and five other Karen villagers. The area was not set aside for farming by authorities and the clearing of forests to build shelters and rice storage facilities was done in the national park, the court said. After discovering that the shelters had not been removed, authorities had the right to demolish or burn down the structures, the court said. After the ruling, Mr Ko-ee and other Karen villagers insisted their shelters were located in their original habitat, adding this was the land where their ancestors lived. Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn, Kaeng Krachan National Park's former chief who led the raid on the shelters, said the ruling gave him moral support.

Source: Bangkok Post September 07, 2016 21:56 UTC