Senator sets sights on Army to resolve Phuket land encroachment

[webfact]

Senator sets sights on Army to resolve Phuket land encroachment
Phuket Gazette


Senator Pol Col (Rtd) Sontaya Sangphow suggested the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) be called in to arrest the ‘big guys’ behind Phuket land encroachment. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A member of the Thai Senate is looking to call in the armed forces to wage war against the “big guys” behind land encroachment in Phuket.

Pol Col (Rtd) Sontaya Sangphow was in Phuket on Friday to arm himself with information in order to pitch his suggestion to fellow senators in Bangkok.

“We are concerned that District Officers are ‘unable’ to arrest the big guys behind land encroachment. We are also concerned about the safety of the officers carrying out the investigations,” Col Sontaya said.

“Phuket officers are working hard to arrest those encroaching on protected public land, but so far only small businessmen have been arrested. The big ones have yet to be caught.

“Therefore other departments must be called in to assist. I would suggest the Internal Security Operations Command [iSOC] be involved,” he said.

ISOC, which reports directly to the Prime Minister’s Office, is renowned as the Thai military’s agency for national security issues. Where state emergencies have been decreed, such as in the Deep South and Bangkok during civil unrest, ISOC acts as the central command for coordinating Thai military actions.

Col Sontaya currently serves on three senate committees, including the Senate Committee on Justice and Police Affairs.

He announced his suggestion to call in ISOC at a meeting with officials from the Kathu District Office, led by District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol, at Patong Municipal Office on Friday.

“We are following up the Kathu District Chief’s investigations and seeing what arrests have been made so far,” Col Sontaya said.

“We will report information gathered from this meeting to the Senate to help push for the necessary budget to resolve this problem,” he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Senator-sets-sights-on-Army-to-resolve-Phuket-land-encroachment-21432.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-06-25

[Tatsujin]

Wow, they'll be arresting themselves . . . cool

[LivinginKata]

Best of luck with that proposal.

[Zpete]

Be fabulous if it comes about.

Reckon the "Big Boys" will be able to give the army guys enogh 'tea money'?

Will believe when I see it happening.

[jpeg]

ISOC, which reports directly to the Prime Minister’s Office

The Prime Minister's view regarding land encroachment by a hotel was 'well at least people are being given jobs', so don't expect much censoriousness from her either.

[Suffinator]

Just goes to show how corruption makes a mockery of law enforcement and how the guys at the top can get away with anything they like. I wonder how many homes are sitting on land that was obtained illegally. You would have to be insane to own property in Phuket. In a recent article the Thai Gov announced that it was going to investigate ALL properties own in Phuket and especially those own through Thai Companies, which is illegal. -

Thai Government to Investigate All Phuket Property Ownership Titles

[bob4you]

Simple solution, just come in with bulldozers and destroy _{all property that is illegal of encroaching. No appeal to the big guys, no pay offs no negotiations.}

[eezergood]

Phuket - The hub of martial law

[MacChine]

The army isn't the answer, they'll just sell it off faster.

Impeach the Mayors if you're serious about getting rid of this rat's nest. This is criminal, indict and prosecute.

Or get the guys in black- isn't that how problems are solved?

Edited June 25, 2013 by MacChine

[JetsetBkk]

And after that, they can start on the transport 'mafias'.

[khunsiam]

And after that, they can start on the transport 'mafias'.

and the "hot shots" in Samui.

[eezergood]

NIce trip to sunny Phuket for the top brass - again