Villagers' apology for felled trees at royal memorial not enough

National Park continues with legal action against those held responsible

PUBLISHED : 27 Oct 2026 at 15:03

CHIANG MAI - Villagers on Doi Pui mountain have apologised for allowing volunteers to "clean up" a memorial for the late King Bhumibul Adulyadej, resulting in 15 beautiful big trees being cut down.

The apology is deemed insufficient and the government is proceeding with legal action against those held responsible for felling the trees, which were inside a national park.

Kritsiam Kongsatree, director of the Protected Area Regional Office 16, said on Tuesday that the apology was conveyed by Methaphan Phuchakrissadapha, the head of tambon Suthep, on behalf of the villagers living on Doi Pui.

They had approved a landscape improvement proposal made by a group of volunteers, but had not expected them to chop down any trees, Mr Methaphan told him.

Fifteen large trees were felled at the memorial, which was built by Doi Pui villagers in honour the late king for his frequent visits to the mountain and royal projects aimed at replacing illegal poppy crops with legal commercial crops.

The memorial opened in 2007 and is inside Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, which is under the Protected Area Region 16 office in Chiang Mai.

No volunteer group has admitted responsibility for the tree chopping. However, a Ban Hmong Doi Pui Facebook post on Oct 9 showed the Suthep Group for Sustainability and some villagers cleaning up the place. One had a chainsaw on the ground beside him.

Mr Kritsiam confirmed that the park was intent on taking legal action against seven people suspected of cutting down the trees and had registering complaints at Bhubingrajanivej police station in Muang district.

The investigation was continuing and others may also be charged if the evidence warrants it.