State offIcIals 'involved In land encroachment'

By THE NATION

The Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), probing forestland encroachment around Chiang Rai's Doi Lan pagoda, claims to have found state officials issuing land title deeds which did not relate to this kind of terrain.

PACC secretary-general Ampol Wongsiri said complaints had been filed with his agency that land title deeds were issued for investors encroaching on nearly 1,000 rai of forestland around Doi Lan. PACC officials initially believed the land in question was located on fertile forestland and the deeds were issued for this terrain. In fact it was located in an over 45 degree declination area for which the law prohibits the issuance of land title deeds.

Today Ampol will join with Royal Forestry Department chief Suwit Rattanamanee and National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department chief Sunan Arunnopparat to inspect the area and make enquiries. He said the initial probe found some state officials were involved, especially a Chiang Rai land official who has been transferred to Samut Prakan. If the probe finds under Category 8 officials were involved, the supervisors will be notified to punish them under criminal law and disciplinary regulations. If investigators find involvement by over C8 officials, the Office of National Anti-Corruption Commission would be notified to take legal action against them.

In Ranong yesterday, a 50-strong team of forestry officials seized 21 rai of land they claim investors obtained by encroaching on the La-oon and Ratchakrud conserved forestland in Ranong's Meuang district. Officials allege the plan was to grow coconut trees first, and then move to rubber trees or oil palms.

Recent land encroachment has cost the government Bt1.5 million in damages. As a result officials are speedily reforesting the area by growing plants and patrolling the land to prevent further encroachment.

-- The Nation 2011-05-20

when are we going to get some news other than State Officials and corruption. Now Im beginning to understand Thais lethargy to such events, Im totally bored with corruption news and sometimes scared to think how much actual corruption goes on unnoticed .... Poor Thailand, I love this place and want to see it develop and peoples lives get better but it seems as if that will never ever happen:(

Wide news coverage of government action against corrupt officials will hopefully discourage other officials from getting involved in corruption. The good news is that complaints about corrupt practices are acted upon and the perpetrators are punished.

If anyone on here has driven along Rt. 1058 from Mae Chan to Thathon they would see and unbelievable amount of forest encroachment....

This can't be true. Must be some farang causing all the problems.

This can't be true. Must be some farang causing all the problems.

Must be you!!!

when are we going to get some news other than State Officials and corruption. Now Im beginning to understand Thais lethargy to such events, Im totally bored with corruption news and sometimes scared to think how much actual corruption goes on unnoticed .... Poor Thailand, I love this place and want to see it develop and peoples lives get better but it seems as if that will never ever happen:(

To make sense of Thai corruption we really need to understand Thai society.

The country was a feudal system only less than a hundred years ago.

Similar to the English feudal system of the middle ages.

They have never had a revolution to install democracy, their institutions are copies of the European/ Western models but overlaid with a Thai feudal mentality.

The richest, strongest members of society can do what they like, because that is the natutal order of things.

That is why they will never have a real democratic system, because they are just mimicking Western values with no real belief that they are right and just.

Rule of law only applies to the poor and weak.

Corruption (to us) is just the way it has always been in Thailand.

when are we going to get some news other than State Officials and corruption. Now Im beginning to understand Thais lethargy to such events, Im totally bored with corruption news and sometimes scared to think how much actual corruption goes on unnoticed .... Poor Thailand, I love this place and want to see it develop and peoples lives get better but it seems as if that will never ever happen:(

To make sense of Thai corruption we really need to understand Thai society.

The country was a feudal system only less than a hundred years ago.

Similar to the English feudal system of the middle ages.

They have never had a revolution to install democracy, their institutions are copies of the European/ Western models but overlaid with a Thai feudal mentality.

The richest, strongest members of society can do what they like, because that is the natutal order of things.

That is why they will never have a real democratic system, because they are just mimicking Western values with no real belief that they are right and just.

Rule of law only applies to the poor and weak.

Corruption (to us) is just the way it has always been in Thailand.

Bob,

Pretty much sums it up in three or four sentences you put there....