MAE MOH VILLAGERS PROTEST RELOCATION OF HMONG ADDICTS

Crime, Drugs and Deforestation Claimed

Mae Moh district people are against relocation of Hmong addicts to the
area. 700 villagers from eight villages in Tambon Ban Dong, Mae Moh
district protested when they heard about the proposed relocation of
Hmong addicts from Wat Tham Krabok in Saraburi province saying it
would destroy the environment and cause troubles into the area.

Mongkol Meepien, Chief of Tambon Ban Tong Administration Organization
together with village headmen congregated at Regional Office of Hill
tribes Development, Ban Huay Tard which has 45,000 rai constructed as
a Hmong Hill tribes Holding Center for Hmong addicts.

Surachai Maneeprakorn, Lampang Provincial Defense Office and Montree
Boophatree, District Chief of Mae Moh went to clarify the situation
and receive the petition from the protestors to submit to Amorntut
Niratsayakul, Lampang Governor to find the solutions for the problem.

In the past, there were some Hmong hill tribes moved into the area,
but the protestors claimed they destroyed the natural resources and
would cause crime to rise and bring in drugs.