Udon Thani Governor Orders Swift Resolution to Ban Kaeng Krachan Conflict, Merges Two Groups to End Dispute
Two community groups clashing over ban sai sales at Kham Chao Nod Island in Udon Thani have agreed to merge into a single enterprise under the village headman's leadership, ending a dispute that threatened tourism at the sacred site.
A conflict erupted on May 7 near Kham Chao Nod Island in Ban Dung District, Udon Thani Province, when two community groups clashed fiercely over sales territory for ban sai in front of tourists, damaging the sacred site's image. The village headman temporarily closed the area to contain the dispute. Today, Governor Rachun Sun Hua assigned officials including Wijian Daeng Dharma Center Director Prajchai Pathumchomphu to mediate negotiations between the two groups. After more than four hours of intense discussion, officials reached an agreement to merge both groups into one enterprise under the leadership of Aruanya Saenkua, the village headman, while incorporating all 409 households as members. The new unified group will maintain Wichian Saensuk, the former village headman, as its director, with a 10-member board split equally between representatives from each former group. Despite initial concerns from some residents, a subsequent meeting at the community hall resolved remaining doubts. Village Headman Aruanya Saenkua confirmed the resolution, stating that the community will now operate as one entity to sell ban sai to tourists transparently. Officials emphasized that Governor Rachun was concerned about the dispute's impact on tourism, noting that Kham Chao Nod is vital to the region's tourism sector.
