Panuphoom Nakkrajang, 24, Zaw La, 46, and Tuangmi, 39, were found burning down a forest zone along the Phop Phra-Ban Don Chedi Road in the wee hours of Sunday. Rattanakul Sangkhasila, a senior official from the Phob Phra District Office, lodged a complaint with local police after receiving a report of a fire in the forest zone. He and the two Myanmar workers have been charged with burning a forest zone, lighting a fire in an open area, and violating Tak authorities’ 60-day ban on agricultural fires that came into effect on February 10. Mae Sot district chief Chaiyapreuk Chientanrak also ordered action against those involved in burning a 50 rai of sugarcane plantation in his area on Saturday. Authorities in Tak have imposed a ban on fires in public places to stem the problem of haze, which is often aggravated when farmers clear land for farming with fires.

Source: The Nation Bangkok February 11, 2018 06:45 UTC