Chiang Mai People's Network

Filed the Administrative Court to file a lawsuit against "General Prayut", the Prime Minister and related agencies for neglecting to exercise his legal authority to solve problems and alleviate the severe situation of the dust crisis.

Abandoning people, facing danger to life

and continual health for a month

Waiting to win an emergency case

April 10, 2023 at the Chiang Mai Administrative Court

Chiang Mai Province

The Law of Law Foundation for the Environment and the Faculty of Law

Chiang Mai University

together with people who participated in the lawsuit, such as the Chiang Mai Breath Council, the Northern Breath Council, Chiang Mai University academics and Dr. Rangsarit Kanchanavanich or "Mr. Mong", a cardiologist.

Faculty of Medicine

Chiang Mai University

And conservationists, winners of the Green Globe Award, etc. Bring evidence documents and lists of people who have been affected by the situation of dust, smoke and air pollution.

who jointly signed between April 7-9, 2023 at the Faculty of Law

727 people from Chiang Mai University and more than 980 people online to submit to the Chiang Mai Administrative Court to sue Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the National Environment Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

) and the Capital Market Supervisory Board

not taking legal measures

Human rights mechanisms, policies and existing plans

Determine preventive measures and prepare contingency plans.

To effectively solve the situation of the dust and smoke crisis

However, from the case since Jan. '23 onwards to the present

The situation of PM 2.5 smoke dust in the northern region is highly concentrated.

The Mekong River Basin particle cover is the highest level of crisis.

And there are more than 2 million people suffering from air pollution, especially in the upper northern provinces of Thailand such as Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son.

have to experience health effects from exposure to toxic dust at dangerous levels, with PM 2.5 dust higher than 100 micrograms per cubic meter or more

continuously for weeks

It is a public health crisis with serious consequences.

and has been ignored by the government for a long time

In this lawsuit, there are 3 important claims in the lawsuit, namely:

1. Sue the Prime Minister for exercising the power under Section 9 of the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act.

which when a serious disaster occurs

to have the power to instruct the agency to act intensively

because the Prime Minister did not use this authority until the problem of the PM 2.5 dust crisis was delayed, not in time for the seriousness of the situation, 2. Sued the National Environment Board

to follow the action plan to drive the national agenda

"Solution of dust pollution", which the government has announced this plan since 2019, because during the 4-year period of using this plan

hardly any progress

and the problem is still serious.

considered an unacceptable abnormality and 3. Sue the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

) and the Capital Market Supervisory Board

as a regulator

which has a duty to cover obligations outside the territory to prescribe rules, conditions, methods for preparing reports

Comprehensive Disclosure Added to Form 66-1 One Report or Other Forms as Important Documents

For monitoring information throughout the supply chain

related to the source of PM 2.5 dust, which has an impact across borders like Thailand

by Associate Professor Somchai Preechasilpakul, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law

Chiang Mai University

who is a co-prosecutor

Said the reason for this lawsuit that

The National Dust Plan that has been in place since 2019, but has not changed the situation at all. Section 9 of the Enhancement and Conservation of Environmental Quality Act gives the Prime Minister the power to fully resolve this problem.

But the Prime Minister did not use this power.

The main problem is the existing laws and plans.

not being fully implemented

We would like to see the implementation of laws and plans in action.

if it doesn't work

we will have to modify

in order to really fix the problem

In this case, the Administrative Court was asked to accept it as an emergency case as well.

because of the problem situation that people are facing

critically severity

that need to be fixed urgently

and long-term protection

While Dr. Rangsarit Kanchanavanit or "Doctor Mong", a professor of cardiology

Faculty of Medicine

Chiang Mai University

And conservationists, winners of the Green Globe Award, revealed that the city's residents face PM 2.5 toxic dust, with an annual average level of 50 micrograms per cubic meter.

They were faced with a sevenfold increase in the risk of EGFR mutation lung cancer commonly found in non-smokers, as well as the risk of heart disease.

stroke

And the average life expectancy is shorter by 4-5 years. We want to see policy changes from the government sector.

with strong political will

Don't be considerate of the capital group.

This will help prevent illness and save the lives of millions of people.

And have been calling for a solution to this problem for more than 10 years, along with providing medical information that has proven that PM2.

5 is a serious public health hazard.

both short term and long term

Therefore, I would like to call on the government to be serious and sincere in solving this problem.

By jointly suing this time

with medical support information

which is expected

The court will understand and listen.

As for Mr. Chatchawan Thongdelert, president of the Chiang Mai Breath Council, said that everyone has to endure the dust crisis that gets worse every year.

Until I can't stand it anymore

would like to call on the state to take urgent measures to resolve

both short term and long term

To reduce dust pollution in the forest and maize.

This will signal to political parties and the new government that

must give importance and have a concrete policy on this matter.

It shouldn't be an event.

Or temporarily, ending for years, which has been like this for more than 10 years, without the problem being truly solved at the root cause.

which the breath council as representatives of the people

I want to be another force to voice the change in our era.

so that the grandchildren will not suffer

and have a clean breath in the future.