Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Road to Dawei paved with anguish
Spectrum, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 02/03/2014
» From the Tenasserim mountains which form the Thai border to the bright blue Andaman waters of Myanmar’s west coast, a swathe is being cut through communities sitting in the way of progress.
Struggling to unearth a grain of truth
Spectrum, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 02/02/2014
» The government's rice-pledging scheme, long plagued by claims of mismanagement and corruption, is facing increasing scrutiny as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) probes into caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's involvement.
Paving a piece of paradise
Spectrum, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 27/10/2013
» Dech Khieonarong is one of many residents of Tak's Umphang district who cheered when the government announced it was reviving a plan to construct a new road from Khlong Lan to the remote town in the midst of a protected wilderness. Weary of traversing the 164km of arduous road with, by his count, more than 1,000 hairpin curves, he volunteered to head a committee of locals to push for the construction of the ''new'' Khlong Lan-Umphang road, a large part of which was actually constructed more than 40 years ago by the military as part of its efforts to suppress communist insurgents. The military managed to cut 115km of road through the deep forest inside Mae Wong National Park, 30km from Umphang in the 1970s. The military backed off on completing the road to Umphang because of objections that it would compromise the Western Forest Complex. Over the years the military road fell into disuse and is now overgrown and impassable in some places.
A lesson in sustainability
Spectrum, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 06/10/2013
» The long-term Chiew Larn reservoir study can serve as a template for other threatened forest ecosystems in the Kingdom, said Petch Manopawitr, conservation programme manager at WWF Thailand.
Government flood 'master plan' faces deluge of criticism
Spectrum, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 14/10/2012
» Vichian Phumlamjiak, chairman of the newly formed Thai Rice Farmers and Farm Folks Association, is hesitant to meet with his fellow farmers and tell them that he has not had any confirmation from the government on how much it will compensate them for the use of their rice fields to help take excess floodwater running down from the North.
Restoration could wreck temple treasures
News, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 08/04/2012
» Phra That Lampang Luang temple has survived the elements and battles for about 500 years, but concern is growing that it might fall prey to modern day efforts to restore it to its original glory.
Abbot faces outcry over restoration
News, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 27/03/2012
» A temple abbot is denying residents' claims that precious mural art under his care has been damaged by poor restoration work.
Mega dams holding back tide of goodwill in myanmar
News, Piyaporn Wongruang, Published on 25/03/2012
» The controversial Salween River dam project near the border is shaping as a major stumbling block to achieving lasting peace between the Myanmar army and ethnic groups who fear Nypiyadaw has no real intention of withdrawing its troops.