Clarification

Clarification

In the Feb 19, 2015, editorial “Move to axe pier welcome”, the Bangkok Post praised the move by Koh Samet National Park to take legal action against Rayong Resort for illegally building a 380m-long pier into the sea, which is covered by the park.

The park, a unit of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, claimed the resort had sought permission from the Harbour Department in 1985 to build the pier stretching 110m into the sea without seeking permission from the Royal Forestry Department, which oversees all national parks throughout the country.

We would like to clarify that in February 1995, the Criminal Court ruled in favour of Savit Bhotiwihok in a defamation case against Siam Post editor Aroon Larnlua who accused Rayong Resort of encroaching on national park land and illegally building a wooden pier of about 300m.

In its verdict pertaining to the pier, the court ruled that in 1987 Dr Savit sought permission from the Harbour Department to build the wooden pier extending into the sea.

The Harbour Department subsequently granted approval.

Therefore, the court ruled that construction of the pier was legal.

We apologise for any inconvenience or misunderstanding caused by omission of reference to this court decision.

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