Anupong vows to scrap approval of land use and punish responsible officials

[webfact]

Anupong vows to scrap approval of land use and punish responsible officials 

By Thai PBS

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda assured on Tuesday  (Sept 12) he was ready to scrap a ministry’s order allowing a private company to utilise a community forest for the production of drinking water, and non-alcoholic drinks in Khon Kaen province if there is even one villager protesting  the project.

 

Gen Anupong’s reaction followed the Association for the Protection of the Constitution on Monday (Sept 11) asking the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)  to investigate him and five other people for alleged abuse of power in giving approval to the KTD Property Management to utilize the 31-rai community forest in the Huay Mek community forest in Tambon Ban Dong of Ubonrat district.

 

Gen Anupong ordered the director-general of the Land Department to the site of the dispute today to find if there is any people in the area protesting the land use, and report back to him in 15 days.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/anupong-vows-scrap-approval-land-use-punish-responsible-officials-2/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-09-12

[webfact]

Ministry: No One Opposed Granting Public Land To Red Bull

By Sasiwan Mokkhasen, Staff Reporter

 

  

The disputed area where a Red Bull plant can be seen under construction Monday in Khon Kaen province.

 

BANGKOK — The Interior Ministry said Tuesday it would revoke a public land concession granted last year to energy drink maker Red Bull – provided a single local resident could be found who had opposed it.

 

Gen. Anupong Paochinda, a former army commander serving as minister of interior, is in hot water after it became public that he countersigned documents in June 2016 granting 31 rai (5 hectares) of public land for five years to the beverage company for 32,000 baht annually.

 

Full story:  http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2017/09/12/ministry-no-one-opposed-granting-public-land-red-bull/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2017-09-12

[lovelomsak]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda assured on Tuesday  (Sept 12) he was ready to scrap a ministry’s order allowing a private company to utilise a community forest for the production of drinking water, and non-alcoholic drinks in Khon Kaen province if there is even one villager protesting  the project.

I was under the impression this was news because village people were  protesting.

  I quess he wants names so these people can get attitude adjustments.

[webfact]

Ministry orders probe into Red Bull’s public land lease

By THE NATION

 

 

A LEASE CONTRACT linked to the giant energy drink company Red Bull for public land in a community forest in Khon Kaen’s Ubonrat district could be terminated if there is opposition, the Interior Minister said yesterday.

As the controversy over the lease of public land in Tambon Ban Dong mounted, General Anupong Paojinda yesterday said the company had legally leased the land from authorities, but he nonetheless had ordered an investigation to be completed within 15 days.

 

According to official documents, 31 rai (five hectares) of public land was leased by KTD Property Development Ltd beginning on June 1, 2016 for the purpose of storing water. Isranews Agency has reported that KTD Property Development is a subsidiary of the Red Bull Group and owned by Saravoot Yoovidhya, Red Bull’s CEO.

 

Local residents have claimed the plot is public land in a community forest that local people use and care for collectively.

 

Anupong said anyone could ask for the permission to lease public land from authorities, but the contract could be revoked if there was wrongdoing.

 

He said KTD Property’s application to lease the land had been totally legal, but added that he had ordered an investigation and officials would be punished if corruption was discovered.

 

“I have seen that there are many local people opposing the land lease, although the Lands Department assured us that there was no opposition against the lease, so I ordered an investigation,” Anupong said.

 

He added that the land was for public use, so if local people opposed the lease, it would be terminated.

 

Article 9 of Land Code permits private entities to lease public land from authorities for no more than five years with the condition that occupants must not damage the environment or harm public facilities.

 

Before the contract expires, occupants must restore the land to its original state.

 

The law also allows provincial governors to revoke the land use permission if occupants do not follow the rules.

 

After visiting the land in question, Khon Kaen deputy governor Suwapong Kittipakphiboon said local people were not using the land, but the province would investigate the issue within 15 days in line with the interior minister’s order.

 

“First we will inspect the land to detect any encroachment and inspect whether there is any wastewater drainage to the area. If there is any wrongdoing, the contract will be terminated,” Suwapong said.

 

“We also have to investigate people who oppose the land lease [to determine] whether they are local people, because if they are not local people, how do they know there is a problem?”

 

He added that the public should complain to authorities rather than the media, because officials could help them directly.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30326527

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-09-13

[lvr181]

Many large brown envelopes to be handed out to locals opposing the lease?  

[FreddieRoyle]

1 minute ago, lvr181 said:

Many large brown envelopes to be handed out to locals opposing the lease?  

plata o plomo

[lvr181]

"He added that the public should complain to authorities rather than the media, because officials could help them directly." Oh sure. Does anyone really believe that? Get a reality check Suwapong Kittipakphiboon! 

 

A recent example, a publican getting beaten up by some (bikers?) and his wife asked the local RTP to do something, nothing was done until a complaint to the military brought some action, some days later. 

 

Sheesh!

[worgeordie]

Looks like they are putting some permanent buildings up on the land,

that will still be there longer than 5 years.

regards worgeordie

[Borzandy]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

and officials would be punished if corruption was discovered.

Is it a start ?

[Juan B Tong]

Hmm.  32,000 a year...

And the winner of this is...

 

Envelope please..

Edited September 13, 2017 by Juan B Tong

[TKDfella]

Surely, if Red Bull use it to store water then that ultimately would mean for commercial consumption which would lead to company profits. Would violate some law?

[greeneking]

 21st Infantry Regiment (Queen's Guards)
deputy commander and commander of the 1st Army Region
Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army - defender of army’s procurement of GT200 “bogus” bomb detectors
Council for National Security
advisor to "National Council for Peace and Order"
minister of interior

.........Very good of him to take the time to intervene in a minor local land dispute

[Eric Loh]

10 minutes ago, greeneking said:

.Very good of him to take the time to intervene in a minor local land dispute

He didn't do that from the goodness in his heart but was singled out by the Corruption Watchdog as he was a complicit in signing off the land. He must have thought that deal would have gone unnoticed. Kudos to the villagers to stand up against corrupt military generals whatever their elevated position. 

[rebo]

31 rai for the purpose of storing water ...
Red Bull seems to have big plans for increasing production ...

[wirat69]

Having been in Ubolratana a number of times in recent months, the locals ALL welcome Red Bull to their community, despite the comments of the armchair critics who have never been to Khon Kaen province!!

[lvr181]

2 hours ago, wirat69 said:

Having been in Ubolratana a number of times in recent months, the locals ALL welcome Red Bull to their community, despite the comments of the armchair critics who have never been to Khon Kaen province!!

Good to see someone speaking for ALL - sounds like you have been in marketing or have aspired to being a 'spin doctor' or perhaps a recipient of some largesse? 

[Jonmarleesco]

7 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Looks like they are putting some permanent buildings up on the land,

that will still be there longer than 5 years.

regards worgeordie

So that's where the son and 'air' is going to hole up.

[lovelomsak]

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Posted 2 hours ago

Khon Kaen ‘water war’ fear

By JITIMA JANPROM 
THE NATION

 

Concern as factory owned by Red Bull moves to lease more land.

KHON KAEN: -- CONCERNS ARE growing that a dispute over water will erupt in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen after a factory owned by Red Bull becomes operational. 

 

“If a proper plan is not drawn up now, I can tell you that a war over water will definitely break out here,” Songwut Kijworawut, director of the Nong Wai irrigation project in Khon Kaen, said yesterday. 

 

The construction of the factory – owned by KTD Property Development, a subsidiary of the Red Bull Group and owned by Saravoot Yoovidhya, Red Bull’s CEO – is now ongoing in Khon Kaen without local opposition.

 

However, residents have recently complained about the firm’s move to lease 31 rai (five hectares) of nearby public land for water storage to manufacture alcohol-free beverages.

 

 

I hope Anupong reads this might get the point across to him..