Thai activists claim victory over luxury housing on forest land

Government bows to protesters and agrees to shelve development near Chiang Mai

Environmental activists in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai claimed victory on Sunday after the country's military government agreed not to continue the development of luxury property on forest land.

The decision follows a demonstration in Chiang Mai last week in which more than 1,000 people protested against the construction of a luxury development earmarked to house judges in the foothills of the Doi Suthep mountains.