10 Thai Officials Investigated Over Forest Land Scandal

[webfact]

10 officials investigated over forest land scandal

By The Nation

Probe over illegal resorts in Thap Lan National Park, Wang Nam Kheow

Forestry officials may have been involved in the illegal acquisition of large portions of land in Thap Lan National Park, in Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachin Buri, park chief Thewin Meesab said yesterday.

Ten or more officials could have helped the illegal purchase of land by developers, through negligence, or other reasons, Thewin said.

This was the first official admission that forestry officials may have been at fault for extensive land encroachment in the park and at Wang Nam Kheow in Nakhon Ratchasima over a period of years.

The unidentified officials, mostly attached to local forestry offices with jurisdiction over the park and Khao Phu Luang forest reserve, had been investigated by their superiors, he said.

Most were attached to a regional office under the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

Land encroachment and illegal acquisition of land in the Wang Nam Kheow - which is connected to both Thap Lan National Park and Khao Phu Luang - had continued for years without action from forestry officials and provincial authorities, who are now blaming each other for extensive violations.

National politicians known to residents in Nakhon Ratchasima have allegedly been behind the encroachment scheme, according to Tawan Srikanil, of the Network of Those Loving Khao Yai.

He said the politicians had exploited state authorities to obtain vast plots in all areas through false ownership documents, and had later sold them to developers.

In a new discovery of land encroachment, Thewin identified a 100rai rubber plantation currently operated by a Taiwanese businessman who is attempting to obtain ownership documents after buying it from local villagers, who were farming there before 1981.

This case would be handed to Nadee police in Prachin Buri for investigation.

man arrested in raid

Forestry officials and police arrested a man on a raid yesterday who was looking after the plantation. Carcasses of wild animals, a homemade rifle and hunting equipment was found on the premises.

Forestry officials faced resistance from villagers during the raid but there was no further trouble.

Some 53 resorts have been hit with 'noentry' orders and eviction notices in Thap Lan National Park and Khao Phu Luang forest reserve.

Some were told a decade ago to move away. And another 10 resorts faced similar action next week, he said.

Owners of 22 resorts in Khao Phu Luang forest reserve facing eviction after technical verification found they were built illegally in restricted areas.

Another 17 resorts in Khao Phu Luang forest reserve located in areas adjacent to Wang Nam Kheow will be inspected next week.

-- The Nation 2011-08-15

[Bakseedaa]

As far as the whole country is assessed...... this is just scratching the surface... Amazing Thailand.

[OzMick]

Jughead, is that you in that photo?

[bushwacker]

I can hear the conversation now. "Say Buddy, do you remember 10 years ago I told you to vacate this land immediately? What seems to be the problem, do you not understand what immediately means?"