Date of publication: 22-03-2013
If the haze of the outdoor burn deteriorated in the nine upper northern Thai provinces, despite the 21 January Cabinet 100-day burn ban until April 30, resolution sub-panel representatives of Karen hill tribes in Chiang Mai and Lampang provinces complained to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on land and forest management, claims that the ban violated their rights.
Mae Hong Son, one of the nine provinces, has this year already broken record with dust particles 428 micrograms per cubic metre. Chiang Mai follows, with about 200 micrograms per cubic meter-well above the maximum safety standard set to 120 micrograms.
NHRC Chairman Niran Pitakwatchara Sub-panel, which recently invited relevant agencies and prosecutors to discuss the ban the alleged "human rights violations", said it was that the traditional practice of crop rotation under Karen Communities, and went against the Government, 3 August 2010 Cabinet resolution aimed at reviving the Karen way of life. Niran once the sub panel had closed its findings, said it would be her to forward recommendations to Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi and the Governors of the nine northern provinces.
Jongjit Neeranartmethikul, a senior official of the pollution control Department, said the high concentration of particulate matter in Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai was the result of forest fires and cleaning up agricultural land in Thailand, but also in the border areas of Laos and Myanmar. She said that the State Department request to neighbouring countries reduce their outdoor burning. Thailand will meet Laos, Viet Nam, Myanmar and Cambodia from 30-31 March, to discuss about preventive measures aimed at further reducing the outdoor burning, she added.
Vice Governor of Chiang Mai Adisorn Kamnerdsiri said that the problem had reached a critical stage that asks him to meet the heads of 25 districts to find a solution. "In the provincial hall, is the level of dust particles 185 micrograms per cubic meter, while on Yupparat School, the level is 210. The poor air quality is Chiang Mai influence people. "
The district authorities have been ordered to strengthen screening and were also check people visit wooded areas to prevent any building fire. Anyone found from burn would be arrested, the Deputy Governor added.
Of 18 February and March 20 there were 378 forest fires in 23 districts, damaging 4, rai 411.5 of country. Most of the fires occurred Chiang Dao district (63 times), followed by Mae on district (55 times). A total of 36,160 people are affected by the haze since 1 February, said the Governor.
Yesterday, the concentration of the substance achieved to Lamphun, 157 micrograms per cubic meter reduction of visibility on Highway number 106 (Lamphun-Pa sang) to two kilometers. The concentration of particulate matter in Lamphun has exceeded safety levels for five consecutive days and residents have complained of eye and nose irritation.
Uthai Thani Lan Sak district, sugar cane plantations harvester Lampong Buacheun of Tambol Rabum, agreed to pay 100,000 baht compensation for reforestation, after its employees set fires that spread and damaged 50 rai of the forest of Khao Hin Lek Fai Community-fueled by the villagers for more than two decades.
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