Mae Sa waterfall – national park in Mae Rim
A number of entrepreneurs in Chiang Mai appeal to the national ombudsman, because they believe they are being treated unfairly. These entrepreneurs are threatened with eviction from the Mae Rim National Forest area.
Ombudsman Viddhavat Rajatanun and some deputies went through the forested areas of Pong Yaeng and Mae Ram sub-districts to investigate progress in this area at the request of a number of entrepreneurs. The protected forest is said to have been affected by entrepreneurs starting hotels, resorts and other businesses in this area
The entrepreneurs claim that they are allowed to live on this land along with 900 others, by a 50-year-old royal decree. They argued that they lived on the land before the area was granted national park status in 1964 and has not been illegally taken over.
However, Staatsbosbeheer argues that the original inhabitants had illegally sold their property to investors or converted their residential and agricultural lands into commercial activities such as resorts in violation of the decree.
Viddhavat said that he will collect the documents and legal files to determine whether there is an abuse of power as alleged by the entrepreneurs or whether, in fact, the forestry department is going to be vindicated.
Source: Pattaya Mail
It is never wrong to get clarity about these things one way or another, but according to my information Koh Samed is also a national park.
With a ruling in hand, it can become quite interesting for that island or could that be the reason that it is being brought before the Ombudsman instead of the court?