Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday expressed his appreciation to all Thais "who did a great job" in helping to protect and preserve the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex in Phetchaburi province, which was recently given world heritage status by the World Heritage Committee (WHC).
Maj Gen Patchasak Patirupanont, an assistant spokesman for Gen Prawit, yesterday said the deputy PM who is also chairman of a national committee on heritage protection, expressed his admiration for those behind putting the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex onto the natural world heritage map.
The WHC on Monday named the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex a world heritage site after six years of efforts to obtain such recognition. Members of the WHC are attending the committee's extended 44th session between July 16-31 in China.
"I would like to thank all Thai people who threw full support behind the government for protecting and preserving the forest. The forest complex is a national treasure that must be kept for the next generation," Maj Gen Patchasak quoted Gen Prawit as saying.
Meanwhile, the Network of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand yesterday released a statement saying that it was extremely disappointed with the WHC's resolution because the committee violated practices by not having a permit from the indigenous people that live in the world heritage site.
It also requested the government stop taking legal action against the Karen people with charges of forest encroachment.