Thailand’s Interior Ministry Launches Probe into Chiang Rai’s Controversial Giant Elephant Statue Project

CHIANG RAI – Thailand’s Interior Ministry has launched a probe into a project conceived by Chiang Rai’s Municipality to build an iconic giant elephant statue on an islet in the middle of the Kok River.

The controversy centers on a large tract of land forming the islet. The land is close to the Mae Fa Luang bridge in Muang district.

Opponents of the project insisted it may be illegal to use the strip of land in the river to construct a statue of the elephant rode by King Mengrai, who founded Chiang Rai centuries ago.

Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osotthanakon has reportedly put the brakes on the project pending a check on the status of the islet, although local administrative officials had met and green-lit the project, on which work has started.

A fact-finding panel, led by deputy permanent secretary for interior Suphachai Iamsuwan, has over the past week questioned state agencies, including Chiang Rai Municipality which initiated the project, and the Treasury Department which owns the land covering more than 24 rai.

Initial findings from the team have not been revealed.

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