Deputy national policy chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul has sued anti-corruption activist Veera Somkwamkid for libel after being accused of illegally building a "road" across a public canal in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Showing land title deeds and a document that grants construction permission, Pol Gen Srivara insisted yesterday he had not broken any laws as claimed by Mr Veera and said the construction is not a road but a weir built to solve flooding and water shortages for local villagers in Pak Chong district.
"I'm left with no choice but to file a defamation suit against Mr Veera," Pol Gen Srivara said yesterday, a few hours after the activist complained to national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda.
The deputy police chief said he will also clarify the issue with his superior in person.
Mr Veera earlier yesterday asked Pol Gen Chakthip to take disciplinary and criminal action against Pol Gen Srivara. Mr Veera said he believed the "road" obstructs the flow of water in a canal in tambon Pak Chong, affecting villagers downstream.
The activist showed photos, video clips and a map to back his case. The senior policeman allegedly owns two plots of land on both sides of the canal and so the "road" aims to connect the two pieces of land for the policeman's ease of travel, according to Mr Veera.
Mr Veera also claimed the "road" restricted water flow for farmers and residents and hurt the environment by changing the course of the canal.
He accused Pol Gen Srivara of violating three laws -- the Criminal Code, the Navigation in Thai Waters Act and the Royal Thai Police Act, which sets regulations on police's behaviour.
Pol Gen Srivara admitted he owns about 100 rai of land in tambon Pak Chong, which he inherited from his father.
What Mr Veera is complaining about is a weir which has been used since 1968, Pol Gen Srivara said.
However, the weir did not appear in the land document he inherited so he asked the Pak Chong tambon administration organisation (TAO) to include it.
Pol Gen Srivara yesterday showed a document, called Tor 28, issued by the Pak Chong TAO recognising the existence of the old weir.
He later built two new weirs close to the old one for which permission had been obtained, he said.
The deputy police chief said he did not understand why Mr Veera made the allegations against him, adding the three weirs were built to protect against floods in the rainy season and store water in the dry season.
"If you are Pak Chong residents, you know very well there is almost no water left in the canal in the dry season," Pol Gen Srivara said, adding the situation is the opposite in the wet season when downpours cause the canal to overflow.
Mr Veera's claim that villagers do not dare to complain because the area is owned by a high-ranking police officer also have no grounds, Pol Gen Srivara said.