Anand's Panel To Put Forward Thailand Land-Reform Proposal

[webfact]

Anand's panel to put forward land-reform proposal

By PIYANART SRIVALO

THE NATION

Wide-ranging proposals about land reform made by the National Reform Committee chaired by former premier Anand Panyarachun will be given to the Cabinet for consideration today.

The proposal includes allocating land for a million poor families by setting up a Bt100-billion per annum fund that is meant to last for five years, introduce progressive tax on people owning large tracts of land and providing legal help to villagers facing encroachment charges.

The proposal is an acknowledgement of the fact that many poor people do not own land, and a few wealthy people have become absentee landlords or own a ridiculously large amount of undeveloped or unused land.

Under the proposal, those allocated land will be able to pay for it over 20 years at the lowest interest rate of 1 per cent per annum.

The proposal also calls for the creation of a new government body, under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Office, to handle the reform in cooperation with other related agencies such as those under the Interior and Agriculture Ministries. The proposal said such a body should be created within three months, be supervised by one of the deputy premiers and chaired by the prime minister himself.

Under the proposal, the government could also pass a land reform bill in order to ensure wide-ranging land and agrarian reform. The committee also suggested that more up-to-date information on land ownership should be made available, and a limit set on the maximum amount of land a person can own. Also, those owning agricultural land should be engaged in farming as well.

Farmers who own less than 10 rai should pay no more than about 0.03 per cent per rai, those with 10 to 50 rai should pay about 0.1 per cent per rai and those with more than 50 rai that is not developed should pay 5 per cent per rai.

Anand's committee believes that land reform is essential in bridging social and economic disparity. According to statistics, 90 per cent of the 131 million rai of land nationwide is in the hands of capitalists, politicians and state agencies, who constitute only 10 per cent of the population, while there's about a million farmers who have no land to work on.

-- The Nation 2011-02-15

[Thai at Heart]

I can't believe it will get passed. But what a money spinner this will be for the government.

[whybother]

I can't believe it will get passed. But what a money spinner this will be for the government.

If the Democrats support it, it will get through ... because the PTP are sure to support it, aren't they?

But, let's see how much support it gets from the Democrats first.

[Thai at Heart]

I can't believe it will get passed. But what a money spinner this will be for the government.

If the Democrats support it, it will get through ... because the PTP are sure to support it, aren't they?

But, let's see how much support it gets from the Democrats first.

All sides of the political divide will go against this. The reason that wealth is plumbed so readily into land here is for the very reason that it isn't taxed.

I like the idea, but then I don;'t own hundreds, thousands or in a few peoples cases in this country hundreds of thousands or rai.

[Emptyset]

I can't believe it will get passed. But what a money spinner this will be for the government.

If the Democrats support it, it will get through ... because the PTP are sure to support it, aren't they?

But, let's see how much support it gets from the Democrats first.

Both Dems and PT have wealthy provincial landowners (as you can see here: http://asiancorrespondent.com/37917/land-inequality-between-elected-and-electorate/) as both MPs and funders but I can still see some progressive politicians backing the idea. Judging by those stats you can also see a lot of senators opposing the plan. I think Phibun imposed such a limit of 50 rai during his time as premier, the fiercest opposition came from the palace, as one of the biggest landowners, but the law was still passed (quashed by Sarit, I think). You'd also expect the military to strongly oppose this, given many generals also own a lot of land.

I support the proposals but I don't think it'll solve all the problems of the rural poor, in fact it might not even be one of the biggest issues. Many farmers complain about crop prices & so on before they do land issues. Also, having low taxes on land might also keep rental prices low. And surely the emphasis should be on creating a more diverse economy in rural areas as farming can only generate so much income and jobs? Anyway, it's great that serious proposals for reducing equality are being tabled, albeit by an appointed panel, rather than political parties supported by the people, as would be preferable.

[animatic]

On can hear the howls from the landowners now, but it is in general a good set of solutions to adress the problems and even if it reaches too far to be implemented as presented, that over-reaching also means that some of it can get enacted at least partially. A set of issues like this can only be done by attempting 'giant leaps', but expecting realistic 'baby steps', over and over again.

Agreed on the money spinner aspect, but that IS what taxes do, and this being taken from a heretofore grossly under taxed segment, that typically has taken advantage of the disadvantaged.

[Thai at Heart]

On can hear the howls from the landowners now, but it is in general a good set of solutions to adress the problems and even if it reaches too far to be implemented as presented, that over-reaching also means that some of it can get enacted at least partially. A set of issues like this can only be done by attempting 'giant leaps', but expecting realistic 'baby steps', over and over again.

Agreed on the money spinner aspect, but that IS what taxes do, and this being taken from a heretofore grossly under taxed segment, that typically has taken advantage of the disadvantaged.

Couldn't agree more.

[webfact]

UPDATE

Anand's land reform proposals approved in principle

By The Nation

The Cabinet Tuesday approved the land reform proposals of the National Reform Committee in principle.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told a press conference that the Cabinet assigned PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey to work out with government agencies concerned how to implement the proposals of the NRC.

The details how the land reform proposals should be proceeded will be submitted back to the Cabinet for deliberation in two weeks, Abhisit said.

The prime minister said Satit would consult with the Justice Ministry, Finance Ministry, Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and Interior Ministry about the land reform proposals.

They will study which proposals are already being carried out by the government and which ones should be adopted for further actions, Abhisit said.

The NRC, which is chaired by former premier Anand Panyarachun, proposed wide-ranging land reforms, including the controversial progressive land tax system.

The proposal includes allocating land for a million poor families by setting up a Bt100-billion per annum fund that is meant to last for five years, introduce progressive tax on people owning large tracts of land and providing legal help to villagers facing encroachment charges.

The proposal is an acknowledgement of the fact that many poor people do not own land, and a few wealthy people have become absentee landlords or own a ridiculously large amount of undeveloped or unused land.

Under the proposal, those allocated land will be able to pay for it over 20 years at the lowest interest rate of 1 per cent per annum.

The proposal also calls for the creation of a new government body, under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Office, to handle the reform in cooperation with other related agencies such as those under the Interior and Agriculture Ministries. The proposal said such a body should be created within three months, be supervised by one of the deputy premiers and chaired by the prime minister himself.

Farmers who own less than 10 rai should pay no more than about 0.03 per cent per rai, those with 10 to 50 rai should pay about 0.1 per cent per rai and those with more than 50 rai that is not developed should pay 5 per cent per rai.

-- The Nation 2011-02-15

[Thai at Heart]

UPDATE

Anand's land reform proposals approved in principle

By The Nation

The Cabinet Tuesday approved the land reform proposals of the National Reform Committee in principle.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told a press conference that the Cabinet assigned PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey to work out with government agencies concerned how to implement the proposals of the NRC.

The details how the land reform proposals should be proceeded will be submitted back to the Cabinet for deliberation in two weeks, Abhisit said.

The prime minister said Satit would consult with the Justice Ministry, Finance Ministry, Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and Interior Ministry about the land reform proposals.

They will study which proposals are already being carried out by the government and which ones should be adopted for further actions, Abhisit said.

The NRC, which is chaired by former premier Anand Panyarachun, proposed wide-ranging land reforms, including the controversial progressive land tax system.

The proposal includes allocating land for a million poor families by setting up a Bt100-billion per annum fund that is meant to last for five years, introduce progressive tax on people owning large tracts of land and providing legal help to villagers facing encroachment charges.

The proposal is an acknowledgement of the fact that many poor people do not own land, and a few wealthy people have become absentee landlords or own a ridiculously large amount of undeveloped or unused land.

Under the proposal, those allocated land will be able to pay for it over 20 years at the lowest interest rate of 1 per cent per annum.

The proposal also calls for the creation of a new government body, under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Office, to handle the reform in cooperation with other related agencies such as those under the Interior and Agriculture Ministries. The proposal said such a body should be created within three months, be supervised by one of the deputy premiers and chaired by the prime minister himself.

Farmers who own less than 10 rai should pay no more than about 0.03 per cent per rai, those with 10 to 50 rai should pay about 0.1 per cent per rai and those with more than 50 rai that is not developed should pay 5 per cent per rai.

-- The Nation 2011-02-15

Seems this thing might fly.

What a day for the country if it goes through.

[whybother]

I can't believe it will get passed. But what a money spinner this will be for the government.

If the Democrats support it, it will get through ... because the PTP are sure to support it, aren't they?

But, let's see how much support it gets from the Democrats first.

All sides of the political divide will go against this. The reason that wealth is plumbed so readily into land here is for the very reason that it isn't taxed.

I like the idea, but then I don;'t own hundreds, thousands or in a few peoples cases in this country hundreds of thousands or rai.

Anand's land reform proposals approved in principle

By The Nation

The Cabinet Tuesday approved the land reform proposals of the National Reform Committee in principle.

Well, the Democrats have taken the first step ... in principal, at least.

[h90]

UPDATE

Anand's land reform proposals approved in principle

By The Nation

The Cabinet Tuesday approved the land reform proposals of the National Reform Committee in principle.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told a press conference that the Cabinet assigned PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey to work out with government agencies concerned how to implement the proposals of the NRC.

The details how the land reform proposals should be proceeded will be submitted back to the Cabinet for deliberation in two weeks, Abhisit said.

The prime minister said Satit would consult with the Justice Ministry, Finance Ministry, Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and Interior Ministry about the land reform proposals.

They will study which proposals are already being carried out by the government and which ones should be adopted for further actions, Abhisit said.

The NRC, which is chaired by former premier Anand Panyarachun, proposed wide-ranging land reforms, including the controversial progressive land tax system.

The proposal includes allocating land for a million poor families by setting up a Bt100-billion per annum fund that is meant to last for five years, introduce progressive tax on people owning large tracts of land and providing legal help to villagers facing encroachment charges.

The proposal is an acknowledgement of the fact that many poor people do not own land, and a few wealthy people have become absentee landlords or own a ridiculously large amount of undeveloped or unused land.

Under the proposal, those allocated land will be able to pay for it over 20 years at the lowest interest rate of 1 per cent per annum.

The proposal also calls for the creation of a new government body, under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Office, to handle the reform in cooperation with other related agencies such as those under the Interior and Agriculture Ministries. The proposal said such a body should be created within three months, be supervised by one of the deputy premiers and chaired by the prime minister himself.

Farmers who own less than 10 rai should pay no more than about 0.03 per cent per rai, those with 10 to 50 rai should pay about 0.1 per cent per rai and those with more than 50 rai that is not developed should pay 5 per cent per rai.

-- The Nation 2011-02-15

Seems this thing might fly.

What a day for the country if it goes through.

This will never fly...too many fat cats....

I am happy if I am wrong but I think it is just to collect some tea money.

(Simillar to the idea to make a channel from east to west in the south, every new government comes with that idea and collect some millions from Singapore to forget about it again)