Wildlife hunters must face justice

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Nereus
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Wildlife hunters must face justice

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Hunters must face justice

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... e#cxrecs_s

The case of a top construction tycoon involved in a blatant hunting incident in the World Heritage Thungyai Naresuan sanctuary conservation area in Kanchanaburi province is appalling.

Premchai Karnasuta, the president of the huge Stock Exchange of Thailand-listed construction company Italian-Thai Development Plc, and three other suspects were apprehended on Sunday by a team of forest rangers, in the no-camping zone of the world heritage site in Kanchanaburi's Thong Pha Phum district.

Carcasses of an Indochinese leopard, an endangered species, and a number of other animals, together with three expensive long-barrelled guns, were found and confiscated by the rangers. Photos of the carcasses, and the tycoon with the weapons in front of him at the scene, stirred public anger.

The 63-year-old tycoon denied all the charges, and with 150,000-baht bail, he has now walked free.

Since the arrest made headline news on Sunday, the public has been speculating about whether Mr Premchai and other suspects would eventually escape the long arm of the law with the use of wealth and power.

Leading conservationists have begun to worry that the case will end in a cover-up while some legal experts have pointed out how the wealthy suspect may benefit from legal loopholes and never be found guilty of anything.
Assurances from a number of cabinet ministers that the authorities would case pursue in accordance with the law has done little to quell their concerns which are valid for several reasons.

To begin with, Mr Premchai's access to and camping in the sanctuary's protected area, which is restricted, is not usual. The case testifies to the special treatment the tycoon has enjoyed, obviously because of his social status.

The head of the conservation agency conceded she received a number of phone calls made in an attempt to clear the way for the tycoon to visit the area. The official said the permission was not irregular, and that the agency would grant it to anyone. Such a claim raises eyebrows, however. It also remains unclear why the tycoon was able to bring rifles and other guns into the protected area.

Since the arrest, it has been reported on social media that there have been attempts to whitewash the case.

A voice clip was released to the media giving the impression that the suspect tried to seek help from his influential connections. During what appeared to be a telephone conversation following the arrest, a man on the other end of the line assured that help "was possible", given legal loopholes. This is sad but it can often be true.

Some conservationists said it can be far too easy for investigators to turn a blind eye to the forensic evidence, if not deliberately to discredit it, to give the culprits the benefit of the doubt. Without strong evidence, they would then be judged as innocent when the case goes to court.

The Thungyai hunting case is not just a conservation issue. It reflects the country's poor record concerning double standards in the legal process. Some social media users raised the case of an elderly couple in the Northeast who last year were sentenced to five years in jail for collecting mushrooms in a forest reserve and other cases of ordinary people, many local conservationists, who were arrested on their ancestral land that was also classified as forest area.

Vanchai Tantivitayapitak, former president of the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, said ordinary people would be thrown in jail immediately over the merest hint of poaching. This does not happen to the rich.

The criticism shows how faith in the state and justice mechanisms has eroded.

The government and authorities have a duty to quell the speculation over double standards and ensure those in the wrong are brought to justice.
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Re: Hunters must face justice

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Praise pours in for Thungyai park chief

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... park-chief

The man behind the arrest of Premchai Karnasuta is praised for his courage and determination to defend one of the last forest frontiers - no matter how important the miscreants are.

And there are no better pictures to illustrate his hard work than the one posted by Patarapol Maneeorn on his Facebook page. The image shows Wichien Chinnawong, the chief of the Western Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, sleeping on his feet outside Thong Pha Phum police station after handing the president of the Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) and three others to police.

"Look at that. If he could not go to the limit, he could not sleep like this," writes Mr Patarapol, who is a veterinarian at the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
"Take care, 'Chien'," he writes and invites others to show him support on the post.

More than 1,500 netizens have shared the post and the list of people sending him moral support keeps growing.
The FM91 Traffic Police station also posted his image on its Twitter account with a message saying: "He's the man."

The network of Khao Yai conservation groups also issued a statement praising Mr Wichien and his team for their work to protect natural resources for all Thais.

Mr Wichien led his park ranger team on Saturday to Huai Pachee, an area in the park where camping is banned, where they found Mr Premchai and three other persons. They were stunned to find skinned carcasses of protected wild animals, including an Indochinese leopard, along with rifles.

All were taken out to Mr Wichien's office on 2.40am on Sunday.

The rangers went back to the location later that day to seize the remaining items and handed the suspects over to police in Thung Pha Phum district in Kanchanaburi on Sunday night to face nine charges.

Mr Premchai and his group denied poaching protected wild animals. They could face a maximum of 28 years in jail if found guilty.

The arrest of a famous businessman like the ITD president has raised doubt about Mr Wichien's future.

Sasin Chalermlarp, chairman of the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, told Thai PBS that the public should keep an eye on what happens to him and called on the public to protect the official.

Mr Wichien's job is safe, said department director-general Thanya Netithammakun, who picked him to take care of the western frontier of the country.

Mr Wichien said the policy from the department chief was clear: no kow-towing to influential figures.

Bringing violators of park regulations to justice is nothing new for him. In the past, he has arrested five people cutting payung trees in the Si Than Wildlife Sanctuary in Phu Si Than in Kham Cha-i district in Mukdahan, and seized 160 rai of land from a politician in Kanchanaburi for encroaching on Thung Yai.

But last weekend, he caught his biggest fish yet.
"I will not bow to any pressure or interference after making arrests," he said.
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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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Good job they weren't picking mushrooms.
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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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Parents fear for safety of Thungyai park chief

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... park-chief

SI SA KET: The parents of Western Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary chief Wichien Chinnawong are worried for their son's safety following the arrest of a high-profile figure for hunting protected animals in the park.

His mother, Wongduen Chinnawong, on Thursday asked high ranked officials to provide protection for Mr Wichien to ease her anxiety.

It follows the arrest of Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) president Premchai Karnasuta and three other people in the sanctuary with the carcasses of protected wild animals, including an endangered Indochinese black leopard, and firearms on Sunday night.

"We're worried about him after watching him on TV. I called him but he did not answer the phone. Now my son called back and I am a bit relieved," she said.

The ITD boss and his group have been charged on nine counts and then released on bail. All denied the allegations.
The news spotlight has been on Mr Wichien, who led the team of park rangers to apprehend them in the World Heritage forest in Thong Pha Phum district of Kanchanaburi province.

Mrs Wongduen said she would be happier if he was transferred from Thungyai Naresuan to a job closer to home in the northeastern region.

With the highly influential construction tycoon now a suspect, and penalties for the offences ranging up to a prison term, the public is watching how authorities handle the case.

Mr Wichien said on Wednesday that he would never give in to pressure or interference that might derail the case, no matter from whom.

At least 30 friends and local officials visited the family home in Yang Chum Noi district of Si Sa Ket on Thursday to cheer up Mrs Wongduen and her husband Korn, who was not at home.

Pol Col Kamolwat Suksai, the Yang Chum Noi police chief, ordered police to patrol their house to ensure their safety.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has warned that anybody trying to interfere in the investigation to help the Mr Premchai would face punishment.

The case will proceed in accordance with the law, to be decided by the evidence collecting by authorities, he said.
"Anybody trying to step in to help them will be punished," the prime minister. "Anybody, no matter who they are, has to bear the consequences if they are found guilty."
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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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Just another elite scumbag that believes the laws are not for him (it's Me dammit!)....just for the proletariat. Well, couldn't be caught more red-handed really and get's off on some token bail amount when others get like 15 years for clicking or sharing the wrong article, picking mushrooms or harassed for wanting to walk a long way.

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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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150,000 baht bail for a multi-millionaire construction tycoon? It's a joke. :cuss:

Best punishment for him and his mates would be to let them loose (naked of course) in a forest and use them as target practice for the rangers. The rangers could video them ducking and diving for cover, whilst getting peppered with a shot gun. :D

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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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I seriously doubt if we will hear anything more about this in the public domain. He has paid his bail; he may pay a small fine out of sight from the cameras and the media, and the case will simply be forgotten.

A farang bringing an electronic cigarette into the country, or smoking on the beach is of course far more serious. Don't forget, if you smoke on the beach, you may even be tempted into playing bridge, or worse still, you may even want to have a game of darts, all of which are very serious offenses which can have a very negative impact on society.
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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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Vital Spark wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:06 pm 150,000 baht bail for a multi-millionaire construction tycoon? It's a joke. :cuss:

Best punishment for him and his mates would be to let them loose (naked of course) in a forest and use them as target practice for the rangers. The rangers could video them ducking and diving for cover, whilst getting peppered with a shot gun. :D

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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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Saw a report stating there is no proof he has fled the country, but he does have friends in Myanmar.
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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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This type of scum will be ensconced in some luxurious location within Thailand laughing at all the media comments.
As in a previous post,bail paid,highly unlikely any further mention of the incident will appear in the media,,,,,,,,,,,it will just disappear,just like so many incidents in the Kingdom!!
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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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It's a shame. We foreigners must pay 10 times entry fee for a national parks and this rich and powerful Thai did't even pay an entry fee and was't check. That's how the dictator wants to end corruption and favoritism. Shame.
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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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europtimiste wrote: Sat Feb 10, 2018 2:30 pm It's a shame. We foreigners must pay 10 times entry fee for a national parks and this rich and powerful Thai did't even pay an entry fee and was't check.
Not only that...but was also basically OKed to hunt endangered species at will by someone who received payment and I bet that this wasn't the first time that pudgy bag of puss did this.

It's shocking that things like this still happen in such a casual way. Just another entitled rich elite believing that the law is only for the poor because "It's ME" etc....dammit!

A great example of how discriminatory the country still is and the divide is as wide as ever. Hopefully the authorities will throw him under the bus....not much choice though.

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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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He also bailed, a trial ???? when ??? alike the Red Bull hair. The only way to get rid of this oligarchy and supporting military dictatorship is a revolution. Will come soon or later.
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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

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It is unbelievable what is being reported with is. What in the hell do they need DNA tests for? The ***cks were caught red handed with the dead carcasses, and still they deny it!
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More bullet holes found in dead wild animals from Thungyai

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box

KANCHANABURI: First it was one, then five and now eight.

That was the number of bullet holes found on the body of a black panther, one of at least three endangered wild animals found dead at the camping ground inside the western part of the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary where Italian-Thai Development (ITD) president Premchai Karnasuta and three other persons were arrested by park rangers on Sunday.

Two bullets had ripped through the head of the feline and six others into the body, all shot from high angles, according to a simulation conducted by forensic police at Thong Pha Phum police station in Thong Pha Phum district in Kanchanaburi province.

The protected Kalij pheasant had been hit even harder, with 12 bullet holes detected by forensic police. The number of bullet holes in the barking deer remains unknown.

Forensic experts and investigators are trying to establish links between the bullets - and other evidence seized - with the four men apprehended at the camp site: the construction mogul himself, ITD employee and driver Yong Dodkhruea, Thanee Thummat, who runs a restaurant and is believed to be a guide, and Nathee Riamsaen, a cook for the group.

Three long-barrelled guns and ammunition were found at the scene, in addition to the carcasses of at least three endangered animals and cooked feline meat.

Thong Pha Phum police have so far pressed nine charges against the men, including illegal poaching. All denied the allegations. One or all of them could face an additional charge of trying to bribe officials.

Traces of gunpowder residue and fingerprints are other pieces of evidence being examined by police, while DNA tests may also be conducted, according to Pol Maj Gen Thawatchai Mekpresetsuk, the Central Police Forensic Science Division.

Pol Maj Gen Thawatchai on Sunday said the evidence could be sent from Thong Pha Phum to the division in Bangkok as early as Monday for additional tests.

Police from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division have ordered Noppadon Prueksawan, a retired official of the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and now an advisor to the construction firm, for appear for an interrogation this week after he was identified as the person who contacted the department to request access to the Thungyai Naresuan sanctuary for Mr Premchai and his team.

Pol Col Suwat Inthasit, the deputy division chief, said Mr Noppadon had contacted the office to set up an appointment with police either on Thursday or Friday, Naewna online reported.
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Re: Wildlife hunters must face justice

Post by Takiap »

Until park rangers are given the right to "shoot to kill", this sort of thing will continue to happen. If anyone is caught/spotted in a nature reserve with a firearm, park rangers should have the authority to shoot them, and also to leave their bodies there for nature to deal with.

Sadly, poaching will never be reduced with the petty punishments which are dished out to those who are caught. :cuss:
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