Thai Farmers Gave Land Titles To Resort Builders: ALRO

[webfact]

Farmers gave land titles to resort builders : ALRO

By PRASIT TANGPRASERT

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

THE NATION

Nakhon Ratchasima

Nakhon Ratchasima's provincial Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) has found 21 Sor Por Kor 4-01 land title deeds for sites now occupied by a number of luxury resorts in Wang Nam Kheow district.

The deeds - under which land cannot be bought or sold - cover about 500 rai (80 hectares).

Local ALRO chief Prasert Wisitthajinda said his agency had been investigating the abuse of Sor Por Kor 4-01 land reform certificates in the province.

Since 1993, the agency has distributed 139,300 rai of degraded forest to 6,412 landless farmers. During the past few days the agency has investigated 572 of these farmers.

Preliminary results found nearly 280 farmers had used the reformed lands for other than agricultural purposes and 21 had transferred their land to developers and built resorts on 500 rai of these lands.

The agency found that about 60 per cent of the reformed land allocated to landless people was still being used for agricultural purposes.

The ALRO sent official letters to ask the 21 farmers who had transferred their lands to people for development as resorts, to submit their rights documents to the office within 15 days.

If they fail to present the title deeds, the occupiers will be asked to demolish and remove all construction within 30 days.

Prasert said his agency had sent a letter to the daughter of Pranom Pohkam, a Nakhon Ratchasima MP and Bhum Jai Thai party member, who had built a resort on reformed land and asked her for the title deeds. Her resort had changed its name from Dragon Hill to Golden Mountain.

"We found that this resort is on the mountain and slope area. It must be turned over to the Royal Forest Department," Prasert said.

However, he added that his officials were facing many obstacles to investigate the alleged land scandal as villagers, farmers and developers were not cooperating. Most resorts and private homes in reformed land were locked.

Samer Jindapong, chairman of the Nakhon Ratchasima Tourism Association, said many resorts and hotels in Wang Nam Kheow district had cut accommodation prices by 50 per cent after the crackdown by the Royal Forest Department and other agencies.

"Resort and hotel owners will organise a special trip to take tourists to see what is really happening in Wang Nam Kheow district," he said.

Sunant Arunnopparat, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said he had set up a special panel to investigate alleged disciplinary violations by officials involved in a scandal where Taiwanese immigrants had changed and developed a national-park area for a big rubber plantation.

"If they're found guilty, they must quit their jobs immediately," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-08-16

[passingas]

Face it....corruption and graff are as much of Thai culture as rice and incense....on every level. It starts in the schools by letting students get away with cheating. They should take several Cats there and start bulldozing. pg

[siampolee]

Big man cometh, little man gives tribute, no tribute, body never found.

[JurgenG]

Face it....corruption and graff are as much of Thai culture as rice and incense....on every level. It starts in the schools by letting students get away with cheating. They should take several Cats there and start bulldozing. pg

Forum rules :

In using Thai Visa I agree:

8) Not to post extremely negative views of Thailand or derogatory comments directed towards all Thais.

A lot of people commented on this subject without really understanding what's going on.

It's a very typical Thai story, it really reflects the evolution of the Thai society.

But instead of trying to understand what's going on, some posters prefer turning the discussion into a pissing contest.

Your loss !

Edited August 16, 2011 by JurgenG

[Bagwan]

I would not categorise Passingas post as extremely negative but then I'm not an apologist for the Kingdom of Thailand. His views are shared by many and more often than not, the members here have supported them and believe that they contain more than a grain of truth. How's that for restraint?

More restraint. I don't believe that ploughing buildings into the ground is a sensible idea. I do believe that those who have broken the law should receive their comeuppance, particularly the responsible, nay irresponsible, Land Office officials.

BTW are your inputs to this situation any more reliable than the members here? Are you on the inside track? If so, why not as a public service, let us, who you feel are groping in the dark, in on the true state of affairs? Or could it be that you do not believe in freedom of thought and expression and want to hush dissenting voices?

[Bakseedaa]

Big man cometh, little man gives tribute, no tribute, body never found.

Yes....well said.... perfect.

[siampolee]

Jurgen

But instead of trying to understand what's going on, some posters prefer turning the discussion into a pissing contest.

[lannarebirth]

If the land reform scheme dates to 1993 titles should have been upgraded years ago. Millions of rai all over Thailand still in the Forest Department's grip which should have already been shifted to Land department with upgraded titles. Forest encroachment is one thing but this just looks a powerplay shakedown.

[LJW]

Face it....corruption and graff are as much of Thai culture as rice and incense....on every level. It starts in the schools by letting students get away with cheating. They should take several Cats there and start bulldozing. pg

Forum rules :

In using Thai Visa I agree:

8) Not to post extremely negative views of Thailand or derogatory comments directed towards all Thais.

A lot of people commented on this subject without really understanding what's going on.

It's a very typical Thai story, it really reflects the evolution of the Thai society.

But instead of trying to understand what's going on, some posters prefer turning the discussion into a pissing contest.

Your loss !

Agreed 100%

[Dag]

Face it....corruption and graff are as much of Thai culture as rice and incense....on every level. It starts in the schools by letting students get away with cheating. They should take several Cats there and start bulldozing. pg

Forum rules :

In using Thai Visa I agree:

8) Not to post extremely negative views of Thailand or derogatory comments directed towards all Thais.

A lot of people commented on this subject without really understanding what's going on.

It's a very typical Thai story, it really reflects the evolution of the Thai society.

But instead of trying to understand what's going on, some posters prefer turning the discussion into a pissing contest.

Your loss !

Bet you were a tattle tale at school also ....

[chinook]

"If they're found guilty, they must quit their jobs immediately," he said..............................................................that's all folks.

[Tanaka]

Face it....corruption and graff are as much of Thai culture as rice and incense....on every level. It starts in the schools by letting students get away with cheating. They should take several Cats there and start bulldozing. pg

Forum rules :

In using Thai Visa I agree:

8) Not to post extremely negative views of Thailand or derogatory comments directed towards all Thais.

A lot of people commented on this subject without really understanding what's going on.

It's a very typical Thai story, it really reflects the evolution of the Thai society.

But instead of trying to understand what's going on, some posters prefer turning the discussion into a pissing contest.

Your loss !

When I was younger, I often heard business people calling the Germans the teachers because they were telling people what to do or what to think, whether they had any idea or not.