Chiang Rai News
Critical Wetlands in Chiang Rai Come Under Treat From Development
According to a sustainable growth and fair use of natural resource expert, development initiatives in Chiang Rai Province’s Mekong Basin may endanger lives and livelihoods along the river. The vast 8-million-square-metre wetland is a habitat for buffaloes and the breeding ground of countless freshwater species is now in danger.
The Nong Luang wetland resources in Chiang Rai Province (Thailand), has grown in recent years due to the expansion of farmlands and other important sources of wetland conflict, such as public land invasion.
Covering two districts in Chiang Rai province, the wetland is considered one of the most abundant ecological sites in the country and a place where many Siberian cranes from eastern Russia migrate to rest during winter.
Last year, the long-conserved swamp valley also became home to a mega-sized “Wiang Nong Lom Large Natural Water Resources Development Project”.
Intended to prevent droughts and flooding while creating jobs and boosting local tourism, the scheme consists of 65 projects including 22 water management works.
The Irrigation Department has dug up the land to increase water storage capacity to help contain floodwater in and around 14,531 households. Still, locals have been vocal in their disapproval of many of the measures being taken under the banner of Wiang Nong Lom.
“Thousands of buffaloes used to roam the swamp freely to eat grass, but the grass was uprooted to pave the way for us to catch crayfish,” a local farmer in his 60s said. He explained that people living around the wetlands agreed not to use pesticides for fear that it would harm the buffaloes.
Without the chemicals, water species also multiplied in number and thus became a local source of income for many.
“It was a great ecosystem. Now everything’s gone.
“I do not want to be someone else’s employee,” the farmer added, explaining that he and many others couldn’t care less about the government’s intention to create jobs at the project’s many sites.
Under the project, fences have been installed in some parts of the wetland to prevent invasion. As a result, there’s no longer sufficient grass for the buffaloes, and farmers are having to bear the cost of buying extra feed for the animals themselves.
Some fear the freshwater fisheries, long significant to locals, will continue to see catches plummet due to the threat that the construction work poses to water habitats.
“I don’t know if there will be any fish for us to catch next year,” another local complained.
He said it was difficult to negotiate with the authorities because the construction had started as soon as the budget was allocated, with little time for local input.
In other parts of Chiang Rai, other dams and similar development projects built along the Mekong River have changed local lives drastically.
One ethnic Tai Lue woman told the Bangkok Post that there used to be a large sandbank where local could gather and plant crops.
They can no longer do so as the river bank is gone, as are many freshwater fish, especially the Mekong giant catfish, which had long been a local staple.
“The dam obstructs them from laying eggs. Some eggs cannot make it through dam filtration,” a local Tai Lue woman said. She added that the river was a habitat for kai, a freshwater algae which could be harvested in winter.
The changes in water levels made the algae, another source of local income, disappear, she said. After the river changed, she said most Tai Lue people could no longer rely on the river fisheries for an income. Most of the Tai Lue people instead had to turn to farm labour to make a living, she said.
“It is long believed that to develop a country, it is necessary to invest on building infrastructure. “But it has been proved over time that sciences and technologies cannot prosper without considering the political, social and cultural contexts,” Chayan Vaddhanaphuti, director of Regional Centre for Social Science and Sustainable Development, Chiang Mai University, said.
He said engineering and science might be the answer for development but there are many stakeholders, especially those who have little power. “We need to consider that they also have their voice,” he said.
The Mekong region has long been ethnically diverse and is also afflicted by power plays between so-called upstream states and downstream states.
Upstream states have the right to control water flow while those downstream of the river have limited power.
“Even if many locals no longer rely on the river for their agriculture, they still have concerns about how the development would affect their livelihoods such as potential floods, or how such projects will affect the border,” he said.
Locals must get a say regarding fair use of river, he said. An open dialogue allowing all stakeholders to express their concerns and viewpoints should always be considered.
“We cannot look at the river solely from an energy perspective. We need to consider rights to the river, to ensure future generations survive with these natural resources and get the benefit from it,” he said.
Why More Expats Love Calling Chiang Rai, Thailand Home
Police in Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai Province have arrested a 50 year old man after the threatened to rape a 20 year-old woman and the proceeded to murder her 2 and half month old baby.
Police with doctors from Wiang Kaen Hospital and the Chao Luang Wiang Kaen Welfare Association were summoned to the scene of the incident to a 2-story cement house, Village No. 2, Tha Kham Subdistrict, Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai
On arrival they found Ms. Chanikarn, age 20, in a state of distress crying uncontrollably beside her 2 and a half month baby girl (Linlada) that was dead on the floor.
After calming Ms. Chanikarn, the child’s mother, said that at approximately 2:30 p.m she was out to collect diapers that had been dried in front of the house, while her 2 and a half month old daughter was sleep on the ground floor of the house.
She said she was suddenly approached by a Mr. Lee, about 40 years old, who lived on the opposite side of the road. He came towards her and grabbed her arm and threatened her saying if she didn’t sleeping with him he will go and kill his daughter.
Miss Chanikan refused and ran away, then Mr. Lee then walked into the house and grabbed Ms. Linlada’s leg, smashing the child’s head against the cement floor of the house. The infant died immediately.
Mr. Lee then just walked away and returned to his own home, leaving Miss Chanikan and her dead baby.
When police went to Mr. Lee’s home he immediately confessed killing the infant and was taken to Wiang Kaen Police Station for further questioning. Under caution he told police that he was sexually attracted to Miss Chanikan‘s and when her husband leave for work he took the opportunity to approach her.
He said when he saw her husband leave he crossed that road and found Miss Chanikan in the yard alone, he then threatened her to sleep with him, saying he would kill her child if she didn’t have sex with him. However when she refused he flew into a fit of rage walked into her home and murdered he baby. He said he was out of control with rage.
After killing the infant he walk across the street to his home and waited for the police to arrive. The police have charged him with premeditated murder and attempted rape. He is being held without bail at the local remand center.
Meanwhile, Miss Chanikan and her family were preparing a religious burial ceremony for the child.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
CHIANG RAI: Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.
On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.
His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.
Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, Assigned Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabut, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Police/Deputy Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, has launched the operation ‘Bombing the Thieves’ Bridge’ in collaboration with the CAT Office, G., mobile phone network operators AIS DTAC TRUE NT, and local security agencies to cut the mobile phone signal and WiFi internet that criminals illegally use to deceive Thai citizens.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai stated that they will begin pressing the first action of the ‘Explosion of Thieves’ Bridge’ in Chiang Rai Province toward the thieves’ base of operations in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
The territory surrounding King Roman in Laos. King Roman is now a full-service entertainment destination with an airport that welcomes travelers from Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, he explained.
According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai, this operation will have no influence on honest people along the Thai border, and it will only target cyber criminals.
They will also increase the arrest and prosecution of unlawful service towers, such as SIM booths, which allow gangs register SIM cards to swindle the people. Dealing with criminal organizations of foreigners and Thais who band together to deceive and damage Thais.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended more than three million SIM cards on July 16 because the holders had not verified their identities with their mobile phone operators by the deadline, in accordance with the NBTC’s measures to combat alleged fraudsters’ mule accounts.
The names of the holders of 80 million mobile phone numbers used for mobile banking transactions did not match the names associated with the mobile banking accounts.
The NBTC would require mobile phone companies to authenticate SIM card holders and the names of their mobile banking accounts. The verification procedure is expected to be completed by the end of September this year.
In addition, the NBTC and Royal Thai Police have collaborated to combat illegal telecom towers throughout the country’s borders, disconnecting signals at 465 places, altering antenna direction at 470 towers, and dismantling antennas at 179 locations.
They are certain that the move will disrupt contact center gangs and other types of technology-based crime.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
Police in Mae Chan, Chiang Rai, shot and killed a 28-year-old man who allegedly attacked a police officer with a machete. The officer was slashed in the right leg with the machete.
According to police, the culprit, known only as Mr. Toon, had been harassing local villagers in Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai, threatening them with a knife and using violet insults.
The village headman arrived on the scene to try to calm Mr. Toon, but he was shouting hysterically and taking swipes at him with the machete, so he contacted the police.
When the responding officer arrived at the site about 9 p.m., he attempted to calm the man, but he instead assaulted the officer, slashing his right leg with the machete. In self-defense, the cop had to fire his gun at Mr. Toon, striking him in the chest.
Mr. Toon and the policeman were taken to Mae Chan Hospital, where Mr. Toon died of a gunshot wound. Pol Sgt. Sutthikiat Phanomphraisakul was released from the hospital after receiving numerous stitches for his injuries.
Local police received a tip around 9.30 p.m. yesterday that a guy was causing mayhem in the village. When authorities arrived, they discovered 28-year-old Toon strolling along a public road, holding a large knife and threatening people. Mae Chan district officials attempted to contain the incident.
During a search of Mr. Toon’s home, authorities discovered methamphetamine consumption equipment. Locals told authorities that the man was addicted to Yaba (Methamphetamine) and an alcoholic.
The authorities are conducting an inquiry to determine Toon’s motivations and whether any underlying issues contributed to his violent outburst.
Other related news:
Chiang Mai Police Offer Cash Reward After Officer Killed
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/crime/chiang-mai-police-offer-reward/
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