Pictures courtesy of Komchadluek 

 

An elderly couple in Lampang say they have been left financially devastated and socially ostracised after being repeatedly accused of illegal logging and forest encroachment, despite a court ruling confirming their right to the land and ordering repayment of an earlier fine. The couple, 68-year-old Thanom Jaiwai and 64-year-old Kamnoi Jaiwai, reported that the case began when Thanom cut a single teak tree, regrowth from an original stump, within the family’s long-held cultivation plot to use as a roof post. The village headman then accused them of cutting a tree in public forest, demanded a 5,000-baht fine without documentation and later initiated further complaints with forestry officials.

 

The family explained that their land has been cultivated since 1963, with clear boundaries, old fence posts and long-established crops including teak, rice and vegetables. They said Kamnoi’s father originally planted the teak trees and occasionally used the timber himself. Despite this, forestry officials pursued a case after receiving a complaint, even though the felled tree measured only 0.2 cubic metres, below the legal threshold. Lampang Provincial Court later ruled that the fine imposed by the village headman was unlawful and ordered the money returned, also confirming the couple’s right to the plot under state land-use schemes.

 

The couple said the headman then barred them from all community programmes, pressured the health office to remove Kamnoi from her village health volunteer role and contributed to their grandson being bullied at school until he had to transfer. Their daughter, formerly a contract teacher at a nearby school, resigned after being pressured and used her final salary to pay the original fine. The family said the headman continued telling villagers they were forest encroachers, leading to social isolation and ongoing distress.

 

When the family requested a land review, the Lampang Forest Resource Management Office confirmed that their 6-rai plot is within an area eligible for state land-use programmes under the Khun Wang National Forest. Despite this finding, the headman allegedly refused to acknowledge the decision and did not return the improperly collected fine. He also declined to provide statements when forestry officers conducted site inspections, claiming he and villagers might face repercussions if he cooperated.

 

Forestry officials later filed another case on 17 June 2025, accusing the couple of illegal land clearing and occupation after a complaint about a pathway leading to their plot. Reporters found that the route was the family’s longstanding access road, with no evidence of new clearing. The couple, overwhelmed and emotional, said they had lost savings to legal fees and travel costs, incurred debt and suffered stigma in their village due to misinformation.

 

Komchadluek reported that they believe the headman may have wrongly assumed they had complained about a village waste-dumping site, though they deny any involvement. Following media coverage, community members and volunteers have begun offering assistance.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• An elderly Lampang couple face repeated legal action after cutting one teak tree on land later confirmed as rightfully theirs.

• A court ordered repayment of an unlawful fine, but further complaints from the village headman led to additional charges and community pressure.

• The family has suffered financial hardship and social isolation, though legal support and outside assistance have recently emerged.

 

 Adapted by Asean Now from Komchadluek 2025-12-14

 

 

 

The Village headman should be jailed for extorsion ....but TIT.

Tempest in a teapot.

They need some low life farangs and Chinese scammers to liven things up in Lampang.

That would generate some real news.

On 12/14/2025 at 2:38 AM, Georgealbert said:

The couple said the headman then barred them from all community programmes, pressured the health office to remove Kamnoi from her village health volunteer role and contributed to their grandson being bullied at school until he had to transfer. Their daughter, formerly a contract teacher at a nearby school, resigned after being pressured and used her final salary to pay the original fine. The family said the headman continued telling villagers they were forest encroachers, leading to social isolation and ongoing distress.

The head-man seems to be a bit of an A-hole

54 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The head-man seems to be a bit of an A-hole

Village head-men in Thailand are not known for their honesty nor integrity.

...Pretty Clear That Someone Has It In For Them...(?)

...Or An Eye On Their Plot Of Land...(?)

...Or Both...(?)

2 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Village head-men in Thailand are not known for their honesty nor integrity.

And tend to be armed....

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

The head-man seems to be a bit of an A-hole

An absolute runt

Seems the head man turned into an a$$hole after not getting his share of the cut.