Events on Hua Hin Today

Hua Hin Municipal Council to cancel lease permission on forest area to private s

At 10.00, on February 11 2008, at Hua Hin Municipality Office, the last Common Meeting was held. Attending the meeting was Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Soraphol Ranuan, the Chairman of the Municipal Council, one who was in charge of the meeting, Mr. Siriphan Kamolpramote, the Hua Hin Mayor, with 16 Municipal Council Members (2 absent) to discuss seriously the administrative issue that concerning persons gave the opportunity to Mr. Direk Seua-Ngarm, the private sector, to lease forest area 87 at Rajamagala University's gate, a total of approx. 29 rais, for planting trees, resort houses and trees for education. In actual fact, the area belongs to the Forestry Department, but is under the supervision and laws of Hua Hin Minicipality.

Mr. Santhat Suksri, a Municipal Council Member of zone 3, in charge of the area, discussed that the private sector had been asking for permission for forest area 87 since 2005, so he and the team visited the area for the purpose of a survey and it appeared that the area was still fertile, so citing that the forest was in decline was not correct. But despite this, construction on the area may harm and affect the environment around the area, due to such factors as waste water, punctures and so on.

Previously, during the Thai economy's heyday, there were a large number of Thai and foreign investors buying land located on foothills, public areas, forest area 87, or even water source areas to occupy, asking for legal title deeds by law, then these lands would be distributed to other capitalists. Thus, the green areas in the past gradually disappeared and finally brought about a strong dispute on the destruction of nature. On behalf of Hua Hin Municipal council, in charge of controlling the area under the governing laws, the Council will not allow anyone to lease forest area 87, as in the past.

Following this, each Municipal Council Member took turns to discuss the issue and the President had to invite Mr. Direk Seua-Ngarm, the project owner, to clarify the details to the Council and he was violently rebutted. Then the President asked for a vote on whether the area 87 could be leased, it resulted that 16 members (2 absent) rejected the leasing allowance which meant that no one could ask permission for this area in the future.

Going back to the executive, Mr. Siraphan Kamolpramote, the Hua Hin Mayor, said there were a number of areas on foothills (of SAO borders) which were still fertile, so Hua Hin Municipality will take over these areas for the Forestry Department for the purpose of improving areas by planting new trees in the hope of turning the areas green. Allowing private sectors to the area for planting a forest is contrary to principal and reality as they always prefer business benefits to natural conservation.