Chiang Mai-Bangkok walk to oppose judicial housing on Doi Suthep

CHIANG MAI, April 4 (TNA) -- Conservationists started their walk from Chiang Mai province to Bangkok to protest against the construction of houses for judicial officials in a forest on the foot of Doi Suthep mountain. They left the Three Kings Monument Wednesday morning and headed by Government House in Bangkok to file a written request for the prime minister to scrap the 1-billion-baht housing project of the Court of Appeal Region 5. Leading the group, Krit Yiammethakorn said they would walk 50 kilometers a day. En route they would inform general people of the issue and raise awareness of forest conservation. He expected to arrive at Government House in about 20 days. He praised Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for saying that the forest in the project site would have to be restored. If the project ended, the Doi Suthep forest could be revived, Mr Krit said. Soldiers from the 33rd Military Circle tried to stop the group while it was passing Kaew Nawarat Road heading for Super Highway. They told the group that the prime minister asked it to stop because he was already aware of the issue. However, the group insisted on continuing with the walk. (TNA)