Populist Handouts No Substitute For Real Land Reform: Thai Editorial

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EDITORIAL

Populist handouts no substitute for real land reform

The Nation

Farmers must be given security of ownership of land, or else the vicious cycle of poverty will be replicated from one generation to the next

BANGKOK: -- Politicians like to cite farmers and low-income earners as their priority for populist policy implementation. But unfortunately, no politician has been seriously tackling the fundamental issue of land reform - an issue that is at the heart of the problems of the poor. As a result of the current situation, some people have to engage in protracted legal battles to retain control of land that was owned by their ancestors.

Whenever the government issues deeds for previously unallocated or disputed properties, politicians, government officials or businesspeople with connections to those in power snatch them up.

People in local communities across the country should be entitled to the land where their families have lived for generations. But too often, whenever title deeds are issued, a large portion of the plots they cover is turned into commercial areas such as tourist resorts. Local people are cut out of the equation.

The ongoing problems are partly due to a lack of legislation on land ownership. There is none in place to ensure that land is fairly distributed. Farmers and local communities should have the first opportunity to acquire ownership to make good, sustainable use of land. This is in line with the Kingdom's history and its ancient agricultural tradition.

It's a sad fact that many of the nation's farmers actually have to fight for the right to continue farming. According to Thailand Development Research Institute president Nipon Poapongsakorn, 435 people have been charged with illegal occupancy and 1,000 people prosecuted due to their lack of legal documentation to back their rights to the land they claim. He added that there is a lack of government control over large-scale land speculation, while civil-service agencies fail to protect people's rights and only use the law to determine ownership.

The effort to bring reform to the land-ownership legal structure has been interrupted by the frequent changes of government. For instance, the community land-title deed project that was being pushed by the previous Democrat-led government has become merely a PM's Office regulation applied on a case-by-case basis.

The current Pheu Thai government prefers to implement populist policies that make people feel good with free handouts. However, these policies only encourage the needy to become even more dependent on the government. In the long run, these give-aways will lead to the erosion of people's self-esteem. The poor will no longer have the confidence, ability or determination to improve their living standard by themselves.

Land reform should be high on the government's agenda because it will help the country's farmers to stand on their own feet. With the security of land ownership, they can earn their living from their farms and thus nurture a sustainable lifestyle. Land is one of our most valuable resources, of course. That's why local and foreign speculators continually try to take control of as much land as possible, leading to price hikes that are way beyond the means of the poor.

Still, the government chooses to set higher priorities for other projects that only serve to put farmers at a disadvantage. Not only do populist handouts cause people to lose their independence, they also instil bad financial habits - and thus we see the problem of some low-income earners becoming imprudent in their spending, knowing that they can always rely on the next government assistance package. Those who are not equipped with financial discipline will easily become heavily indebted due the introduction of schemes such as the farmers' credit card project.

Land reform should be designed to make people self-sufficient by giving them the means to make a sustainable living. Reform should also help protect the environment if a majority of areas are allocated to the agricultural sector.

If people get secure land ownership and can continue to make a living in their home communities, they will not have to migrate to the cities to do menial work that will lead them nowhere and only places a greater burden on the urban environment and resources. Land ownership can instil a sense of pride. People can turn their own land into a "golden land" where they can prosper. Unfortunately, this vision is not shared by the powers-that-be.

-- The Nation 2012-05-31

[ramrod711]

Democracy is often linked with free enterprise, the question the becomes, how can the government interfere with my right to buy land and make money. The problem is, that without some type of legislation, there is no way to break the cycle of poverty amongst Thai farmers.

[bigbamboo]

Ah, now we're actually getting down to the nitty gritty. The wealthy influential sen yais keeping the grateful poor happy with a few crumbs here and there whilst filling their own troughs to the brim.

If the redshirts want change then land reform is one of the ways to go but don't expect any help from the politicians.... any of them.

Edited May 31, 2012 by bigbamboo