Relatives of a conservationist monk who was murdered 11 years ago in Chiang Mai have asked the Justice Ministry to re-open the case, which remains unsolved.
The monk, Phra Supoj Suvacano (Duangprasert), who fought to prevent land grabbers from taking a community forest, was murdered at the Mettatham monastery in Ban Huay Ngu Nai in tambon Sansai of Fang district in June 2005.
Phra Supoj's younger brother Sophon Duangprasert and their parents, Mr Kittipat and Mrs Daoruang, on Thursday submitted a complaint to Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya. The complaint was received by Pornthep Harikampha, a lawyer attached to the Office of the Justice Minister.
According to Mr Sophon, after Phra Supoj's death a complaint was filed with Fang police, but the police made no progress in the investigation.
The family then lodged a petition with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), which accepted it for investigation.
When Tarit Pengdith was DSI chief, he ordered a halt to the investigation and informed the Office of the Attorney General that there was no evidence pointing to the killer's identity.
"In 2014, the family filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission. The NHRC said the matter is under the jurisdiction of the DSI. So we decided to petition Gen Paiboon (the justice minister) in the belief the National Council for Peace and Order will give us justice by ordering the DSI or another agency to re-open the case.
"We have no new evidence, but believe the DSI has enough to proceed," said Mr Sophon.
He said the Mettatham monastery in Ban Huay Ngu Nai in Fang district was originally located in a 1,500-rai community forest. However, 600 rai of the forest land had been grabbed by an influential figure who had built a fence around the land for farming, he added.
Mr Pornthep, the Justice Ministry's lawyer, said he would forward the family's petition to Gen Paiboon for consideration.