15 trees felled at Rama 9 memorial in Chiang Mai park

Seven 'clean-up volunteers' seen on video may face charges

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department will take legal action against at least seven people for cutting down 15 trees, including 11 wild Himalayan cherry trees, at a memorial built to honour the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Chiang Mai province.

The suspects have not been publically identified, but suspicion has settled on a group of well-meaning "clean-up volunteers".

Director-general Yongyut Nakawiroj said the decision to arrest the suspects was confirmed on Sunday by Thongchai Narat, chief of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, after talks between park officials and local villagers, and after examination of videos and photographs taken at the memorial park.

Mr Youngyut said the deputy commander of Provincial Police Region 5 had promised swift action once the complaints were filed with police. The case is under the jurisdiction of Bhubingrajanivej police station in Muang district of the northern province.

The park chief said seven people would be charged with illegally cutting down trees in a national park. He did not provide any other details.

Under the National Parks Act, an offender faces a maximum sentence of  20 years in prison and/or a fine of 400,000 to 2 million baht, depending on the severity of the crime.

The timber harvest sparked a public outcry. News reports showed people cutting down 15 trees at the memorial built in memory of the late king for his frequent visits to Doi Pui and royal projects encouraging the local Hmong people to switch from illegally growing poppies -  the source of opium, morphine and heroin - to legal commercial crops.

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park later gave out some further details. It said 11 wild Himalayan cherry trees, two gloden shower trees and one golden trumpet and a Norfolk Island pine had been felled. The trees were cut into about 40 large lengths of timber.

Golden shower is also called Ratchaphruek and is Thailand's national flower. Wild Himalayan cherry flowers are also known as Thai sakura, because they are similar to the famed Japanese sakura, or ornamental cherry, when in full bloom. (continues below)

A man with a chainsaw is seen during a "clean-up" at the memorial by a group calling itself the Suthep Group for Sustainability, in a photo posted on Oct 9. (Photo: Ban Hmong Doi Pui Facebook account)

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin on Sunday promised no compromise on the case, and instructed park officials to double check the scene.

Park and local administration officials on Monday inspected the area, compiling evidence and assessing the damage.

Channel 3 news reported on Monday that a volunteer group had apologised to the park for chopping down the trees. It said they were obstructing the view at the memorial and the fallen leaves spoiled the surroundings.

The timber was not taken away for personal purposes or gain. It was kept to make planter boxes, the broadcaster said.

Neither the department nor the programme named the group.

However, the Ban Hmong Doi Pui Facebook page on Oct 9 showed the Suthep Group for Sustainability and some Doi Pui villagers "working hard to renovate" the memorial and "return life" to the place.

It was unclear whether this volunteer group was responsible for cutting down the trees, but one of the photos showed a man with a chainsaw.

The memorial was built by residents of Doi Pui and opened on Dec 5, 2007, marking the late king's 80th birthday. King Bhumibol died on Oct 13, 2016.