Fight against encroachers continues in Thailand

[webfact]

Fight against encroachers continues
Thanapat Kitjakosol
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE CRACKDOWN on people who have encroached on state land in tourist destinations initiated by the military junta continues, after a number of illegally built food shops and hotels on two Phuket beaches were dismantled. Illegal land title deeds are being revoked and the land repossessed by authorities.

Thawichart Nillakarn, chief of the provincial anti-graft office, said corrupt officials were behind the issuing of fraudulent land-ownership documents, a problem uncovered in most land-related cases.

He said 77 local officials had been prosecuted, including the former chief of Sirinat National Park plus four rangers allegedly involved in extensive exploitation of state land at Naithon and Naiyang beaches.

Some 379 plots were taken over in Sirinat National Park, covering a total area of 2,743 rai and worth some Bt50 billion, said Samak Donnapee, the director of the Bureau of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

He said all illegally built structures must be dismantled - not partly taken down or rented to new investors, as proposed by local business people.

He said most of the suspicious land ownership documents were issued with the help of park and land officials, who failed to produce mandatory documents and later submitted substitute documents despite their questionable authenticity.

Several former ministers or even deputy prime ministers were either involved in these scams or benefited from the entire scheme, Samak said.

Apart from disputed authenticity of documents, several cases involve structures actually located inside Sirinat National Park, although the documents indicate otherwise, he said.

One case was cited as an example: the Andaman White Beach Hotel is situated on a six-rai block, although the owners' land deed allegedly shows that it acquired only two rai - outside of national park.

The Justice Ministry's Department of Special Investigation has agreed to investigate the hotel in question, located on Naithon beach, along with 13 other cases. The area where the hotel is located has a slope greater than 40 degrees - which is obviously not permitted for a private structure.

Samak said inspection of actual locations and relevant land ownership documents by forestry officials had also been tricky, as villagers would have been mobilised by the financiers to resist officials' efforts. But this time the operation had continued smoothly because the military had initiated and supervised the crackdown.

Sirinat National Park chief Kittiphat Tharaphibal said around 6,000 rai had been reclaimed from a total of 8,000 rai encroached upon. He said the land would be restored with the planting of pine and other trees to bring back its "original" vegetation, which is habitat for sand crabs and also used by turtles to lay eggs.

Of the 379 land plots, 43 were located in a forest reserve, 46 in areas between the Sirinat park and the forest reserve, 11 in other areas which were inspected, plus 279 which had been encroached on previously or recently.

The people who acquired these blocks have sought to change their temporary acquisition "right" into permanent ownership covering a total of 2,743 rai - and worth more than Bt50 million, Niphon Chotibal, head of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), said.

Phuket governor Maitree Inthusut said the problem had stemmed mainly from corrupt officials. He said surveys of these areas and inspection of land ownership must now be done with the help of local civilian administrators, plus land and forestry officials, and DNP officials.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Fight-against-encroachers-continues-30239112.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-22

[ukrules]

They really do seem to mean business and appear to have the means and will to carry it out.

Is this an end to the rampant corruption that's been plaguing Thailand ?

I wonder if they will they tackle the gem scams ?

[noitom]

What does "prosecuted" mean according to the Thai military dictatorship? What has the military junta done with these "corrupt officials?"

[chainarong]

Thailand is on a long journey if it wants to stamp out corruption, this word is so firmly entrenched in Thai society that it will take policing to a new level, on dangerous ground in some instances, this is only the tip of the iceberg, in the long term , a more resolute government would be needed with stronger type of character to ride out this type of on-going clean -up, something like, more action and less talk , can't see that happening.

[Fiddlesticks]

What does "prosecuted" mean according to the Thai military dictatorship? What has the military junta done with these "corrupt officials?"

It means that they will likely be transferred probably to the police department where they will certainly go about doing what all Thai police do . . . absolutely NOTHING!

Edited July 22, 2014 by Fiddlesticks

[shirtless]

I would like to see the official who made these deals prosecuted follow the money or this will never stop.

[Cloggie]

It looks like they need to look for new "inactive posts" positions

[ChrisY1]

What does "prosecuted" mean according to the Thai military dictatorship? What has the military junta done with these "corrupt officials?"

The OP has quoted that 77 officials have been prosecuted....hopefully many more to go

[Cloggie]

It looks like they need to look for new "inactive posts" positions

[ChrisY1]

Thailand is on a long journey if it wants to stamp out corruption, this word is so firmly entrenched in Thai society that it will take policing to a new level, on dangerous ground in some instances, this is only the tip of the iceberg, in the long term , a more resolute government would be needed with stronger type of character to ride out this type of on-going clean -up, something like, more action and less talk , can't see that happening.

Agree....and when there have been past ministers, including deputy prime ministers....that have scammed the systems....it's certainly going to need a major change in policing as you mentioned.

[PattayaPhom]

Looking forward to a holiday in Koh Tao in a few years, as that is surely top of the list.

[aussieinthailand]

Great news for Phuket and the environment, and also the people of Thailand and the world, There only a small portion of national and Marian parks so the ones we do have need to be protected without prejudice. And this "transferred to an inactive post needs to stop, after prosecution and if a guilty verdict is reached, then full weight of the law needs to come to rest of the se people regardless of who they are and connections...

Now if attention could be turned to Koh Samui, Koh tao, Koh Pangan, Surathani, but the only problem is that there is an EX-minister/ power broker there that seems untouchable!!! I hope the same treatment can be applied there as in Phuket, and all other parks.

[OOLEEBER]

"77 local officials had been prosecuted".

That's quite a haul. Nice work.

[Oziex1]

77 prosecuted good but I wont be happy till I read they have been punished appropriately with prison and or severe fines. Hang em high I say!

[simon43]

Sirinat National Park chief Kittiphat Tharaphibal said around 6,000 rai had been reclaimed from a total of 8,000 rai encroached upon.

Huh? I live right by this NP. The army removed about 20 bamboo restaurant huts from the beach (primarily serving local customers, not tourists). The tourist businesses on the beach have been left alone (about 100 concrete and wooden buildings).

There is ongoing investigation into some major NP encroachments. But I have seen/heard nothing about that land having actually been reclaimed.

Basically, it is business as usual, illegal hotels, illegal restaurants, new building work going on here.

[BirdsandBooze]

It will be interesting to see if the retired generals who have extended their estates into national parks will be pursued with the same vigour. Elites need to be treated the same as the general populace if the junta is to earn credibility with it's program of reform. The question is will it's backers allow themselves to be reformed.

[kerrysum]

They really do seem to mean business and appear to have the means and will to carry it out.

Is this an end to the rampant corruption that's been plaguing Thailand ?

I wonder if they will they tackle the gem scams ?

Who knows brother?

[willyumiii]

Q) What do you call 77 corrupt officials at the bottom of the Gulf of Thailand?

A) A good start!

[smutcakes]

Well to me this sounds like a very good step, if what is being reported is actually true and followed up.

Would be good for the news outlets and TVF members in the locale to keep us abreast of whether action is actually being taken or it is all hot air.

Thawichart and Samak should probably watch their backs.

[Dr Bruce]

I hope they look at Koh Samet next, every beach on the Island is now covered by a Resort of some kind. I am surprised that The Eastern Tigers Faction has not noticed what has happened in their own back yard.

[Bulldozer Dawn]

Sirinat National Park chief Kittiphat Tharaphibal said around 6,000 rai had been reclaimed from a total of 8,000 rai encroached upon.

Huh? I live right by this NP. The army removed about 20 bamboo restaurant huts from the beach (primarily serving local customers, not tourists). The tourist businesses on the beach have been left alone (about 100 concrete and wooden buildings).

There is ongoing investigation into some major NP encroachments. But I have seen/heard nothing about that land having actually been reclaimed.

Basically, it is business as usual, illegal hotels, illegal restaurants, new building work going on here.

Yep. Just the little guys that have suffered. Often those who have no other options. As I have posted, Phuket is now in the control of the Bangkok elite. The dreadfully located Pullman resort is trading on with total impunity, and of course it is Bangkok money that paid for that example of land theft and environmental rape. The Junta needs to get on this issue swiftly. Otherwise it will sow the seeds of revolution. Many of the poor of Phuket are now without their businesses, jobs and accommodation, while the rich super criminals that own operations such as Pullman, White Haven, Trisara (three dolphins) carry on as usual and are dancing a little jig of happiness as all of their competition has been forcibly removed by the Army.