The Armed Forces Development Command has ordered disciplinary action against supervisors of a military officer who was arrested on Friday on charges of wildlife poaching in Kanchanaburi's Sai Yok national park.
Gen Naren Siriphubal, chief of Armed Forces Development Command, said three officers, including the chief of the Mobile Development Unit 11 under 1st Regional Development Office, face a seven-day disciplinary punishment known as thamrong winai, or maintaining discipline. Thamrong winai is known to involve heavy physical exercises.
An inquiry has also been ordered into the wildlife incident, according to Gen Naren.
The disciplinary measure follows the arrest of CPO1 Phitsanu Choeykhim, attached to Mobile Development Unit 11 under 1st Regional Development Office, at Sai Yok national park on Friday morning by a park ranger unit.
The park rangers, led by Kitti Saenglor, were investigating a tip about illegal hunting in the park when they spotted a pickup truck and found CPO1 Phitsanu's hunting camp.
Seized from CPO1 Phitsanu's possession were carcasses of wild animals, including seven hornbills, three other bird carcasses, several hunting and fishing tools, firearms, four speed pills and compressed marijuana.
He was taken to Sai Yok police station for legal proceedings. He faced several counts of poaching and possession of wildlife carcasses and weapons and drug abuse.
Sai Yok police yesterday asked the military court to detain him for further questioning.
Activist Srisuwan Janya yesterday called on the Armed Forces Development Command to sack CPO1 Phitsanu for his disrespect of laws and military discipline.
He also criticised the command for failing to keep its officers in check.
"CPO1 Phitsanu must be investigated by his unit and action be taken against him without delay. He deserves the most severe punishment, that is being sacked," said the activist.
Meanwhile in Phitsanulok, two men were arrested for illegal wildlife hunting in a designated forest reserve in Wat Bot district while another suspect fled during the arrest, local officials said.
Dech Thimkham and Meechai Phetsuk were nabbed by forest rangers while they were leaving a forest area designated as part of the Kwai Noi national park. Another man ran away.
Found in their possession were animal carcasses, including red junglefowl and Pallas's squirrel, and two hand-made rifles. They also led the rangers to locations where they set up traps.
The suspects were handed over to Wat Bot police for further questioning. They were initially charged with breaching the wildlife protection and firearms laws.
