Forestry boss views Phuket hotel 'built in state forest'

[webfact]

Forestry boss views Phuket hotel 'built in state forest'
Suthicha Sirirat


Theerapat Prayouthsithi: Be sensitive in ejecting poor people from state forests.

PHUKET: -- The Director-General of the Royal Forestry Department (RFD) Theerapat Prayouthsithi visited three controversial areas of Phuket on Saturday (July 26) – a forest in Thalang District that has almost disappeared, the contentious land above Freedom Beach, and a hotel in Kamala that appears to be built in state forest.

In Kamala he was shown the hotel which, officials said, was built on 10 rai of forest land. Investigators had discovered that the hotel’s owner has nine title deeds, but there appeared to be no underlying papers in the Land Office, leading the investigators to believe the papers may be fake.

They are now examining aerial photographs to see whether the land was ever farmed – which might indicate the ownership is legitimate.

At Freedom Beach he was shown a large tract of land that is claimed by an individual but which the RFD considers to be state forest. The land was investigated by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, which urged the Land Department to cancel the ownership papers.

In May 2012 the Land Department indicated its willingness to rescind the land papers but this has apparently not happened so far.

In Thalang Mr Teerapat visited Bang Kanoon Forest, which officially covers 5,000 rai, but has shrunk to just 500 rai thanks to individuals who have turned the forest into plantations and built whole communities inside its borders.

Oddly, many residents of Bang Kanoon came out to support the work of the officials.

The RFD, Mr Teerapat said, will set up investigation teams in each province of Thailand to solve problems. The teams will also reopen past cases in which encroachers were arrested and go over them in detail.

He said, however, that it was important for officials to understand that many of the encroachers are poor people, so all departments must be careful and sympathetic in their approach to clearing people out of state forests.

The provincial government, too, must work closely with residents, he added, saying that he hoped to see results in three to six months.

“Hopefully we will have the correct documents within two months. If we find out that government officials are involved in any of these cases they will be subject to investigation.”

Despite the sympathy for poor people, he announced that he had received orders from the National Council for Peace and Order, via the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, to take a new, stricter line on encroachment into forest land,

An impressive line-up of officials accompanied him on his visit: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, Col Kritsada Ratanasupa of the Army’s Internal Security Operation Command in Phuket, Sirinart Marine National Park Chief Kitipat Tharapiban, Charnchaoi Pongpasson of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, and the head of the RFD’s Crime Suppression Unit, Cheewapap Cheewatham.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/forestry-boss-views-phuket-hotel-%E2%80%98built-in-state-forest%E2%80%99-47574.php

[pn]2014-07-29[/pn]

[shirtless]

Just chase the officials who signed and authorised these documents , check their bank accounts at the time for any deposits. 

[DonaldBattles]

Does this mean if you are poor you can occupy the land?

[harveyBKK]

it means countries have an obligation to address their poor populations. it's in everyones best interest. 

[DonaldBattles]

There is zero unemployment in Thailand and over 1 million foreign workers doing the jobs that Thais wont do. Do you mean that those poor lazy people should be given government land at the expense of the taxpayers. The government has a good program for resettlement of people who are willing to work. NO WORK NO LAND FREE!

[Showbags]

Originally 5000 rai to now 500 rai....easy enough to overlook I guess.

[khounteen]

Everyone is involved, from forestry officials to the land office officials and the local politicians otherwise it would not work. How can a forest be cut down 90% without any of these guys knowing.

[Emster23]

There is zero unemployment in Thailand and over 1 million foreign workers doing the jobs that Thais wont do. Do you mean that those poor lazy people should be given government land at the expense of the taxpayers. The government has a good program for resettlement of people who are willing to work. NO WORK NO LAND FREE!

Let's see you work your butt off for 250 baht a day (or less), and see if that changes your tune. 1 million foreign workers here almost guarantee wages will be kept at bare survival level. This argument about "Doing the jobs that Thais won't do" sounds like same BS said in USA. Lots of guys used to make good living in construction, but all the Mexicans (legal and illegal) took those jobs they used to have and wanted. Only people that get free land (if you exclude bribes) are the rich here. Ask Suthep about the land redistribution program he made a mockery of down south.

[Cake Monster]

Land is being stolen, or used illegally on massive scales all over the country, and not just the Government lands.

Its called graft

[lucjoker]

Does this mean if you are poor you can occupy the land?

Yes , poor people can ask for land to farm ,

and they will get it ,the only problem is that it is mostly in remote 

areas ( up north) and the poor people have to migrate to that land .

If they cultivate AND live on that land for 12 years ,it becomes theirs and

a chanout is given AND they can now sell it .

[Dibbler]

Will be interesting to see if Forest Department starts seriously looking at forest encroachment over in Samui and elsewhere in Surat Thani Province.  With the tens of millions he made in donations from clueless citizen supporters, the fearless leader of the PDRC must have his hands full doing deals in and around "vacant" state land.

[Carrerakiss]

Does this mean if you are poor you can occupy the land?

No doubt some poor people have encroached on state land. But by definition, it takes many many poor people to occupy large tracts of land. I mean, they tend not to have heavy machinery or the means to construct large buildings.

Nope, in my opinion large tracts of land tend to be misappropriated by rich powerful people who either take advantage of poor people by taking over land intended for the poor to cultivate crops, or by using their power and influence to use corrupt local officials.

But of course, the latter tend to be difficult to prosecute. Although the army knocks down buildings, even they don't appear to be able to jail the occupiers of state land or corrupt officials who aided and abetted them. They never even name them as far as I can see. Instead attention is diverted to poor people. Hmm.

[Carrerakiss]

Does this mean if you are poor you can occupy the land?

No doubt some poor people have encroached on state land. But by definition, it takes many many poor people to occupy large tracts of land. I mean, they tend not to have heavy machinery or the means to construct large buildings.

Nope, in my opinion large tracts of land tend to be misappropriated by rich powerful people who either take advantage of poor people by taking over land intended for the poor to cultivate crops, or by using their power and influence to use corrupt local officials.

But of course, the latter tend to be difficult to prosecute. Although the army knocks down buildings, even they don't appear to be able to jail the occupiers of state land or corrupt officials who aided and abetted them. They never even name them as far as I can see. Instead attention is diverted to poor people. Hmm.

[Carrerakiss]

Does this mean if you are poor you can occupy the land?

No doubt some poor people have encroached on state land. But by definition, it takes many many poor people to occupy large tracts of land. I mean, they tend not to have heavy machinery or the means to construct large buildings.

Nope, in my opinion large tracts of land tend to be misappropriated by rich powerful people who either take advantage of poor people by taking over land intended for the poor to cultivate crops, or by using their power and influence to use corrupt local officials.

But of course, the latter tend to be difficult to prosecute. Although the army knocks down buildings, even they don't appear to be able to jail the occupiers of state land or corrupt officials who aided and abetted them. They never even name them as far as I can see. Instead attention is diverted to poor people. Hmm.

[HerbalEd]

There is zero unemployment in Thailand and over 1 million foreign workers doing the jobs that Thais wont do. Do you mean that those poor lazy people should be given government land at the expense of the taxpayers. The government has a good program for resettlement of people who are willing to work. NO WORK NO LAND FREE!

Simply having a job doesn't mean you aren't poor. Let's have you work twelve hours per day, six days per week at 200 to 300 baht per day, and see if you remain unsympathetic to the plight of the poor. 

Edited July 29, 2014 by HerbalEd

[fxe1200]

“Hopefully we will have the correct documents within two months. If we find out that government officials are involved in any of these cases they will be subject to investigation.”

 

....,and be transferred to an inactive post, if found guilty.

[Rorri]

fxe1200, on 29 Jul 2014 - 17:16, said:

“Hopefully we will have the correct documents within two months. If we find out that government officials are involved in any of these cases they will be subject to investigation.”

 

....,and be transferred to an inactive post, if found guilty.

Why hasn't the one person, totally responsible for all government authorities, been brought to question, and asked why he has failed to do his duty...that person.. the governor.

[steelepulse]

 

There is zero unemployment in Thailand and over 1 million foreign workers doing the jobs that Thais wont do. Do you mean that those poor lazy people should be given government land at the expense of the taxpayers. The government has a good program for resettlement of people who are willing to work. NO WORK NO LAND FREE!

Simply having a job doesn't mean you aren't poor. Let's have you work twelve hours per day, six days per week at 200 to 300 baht per day, and see if you remain unsympathetic to the plight of the poor. 

 

 

I bet if you asked Don, he would tell you he worked much longer than 12 hour days, six days a week.  It was more like 14-16 hours/day 7 days a week for years on end. 

[DonaldBattles]

The economy in this country is set by the government. If you feel so sorry for people here think about how they suffer in other parts of the world. There is no hunger or unemployment here. Stop feeling sorry for people that won't work.

[Leung Falang]

it means countries have an obligation to address their poor populations. it's in everyones best interest. 

 

But what country would give away its national forests and beaches to the poor?  None.  There are other ways to help the poor.  

[zaZa9]

There is zero unemployment in Thailand and over 1 million foreign workers doing the jobs that Thais wont do. Do you mean that those poor lazy people should be given government land at the expense of the taxpayers. The government has a good program for resettlement of people who are willing to work. NO WORK NO LAND FREE!

 

There are truckloads of foreign workers in every country doing the jobs the locals dont want.

Do you think those lazy locals should get the dole or welfare at the expense of taxpayers?

Do You receive benefits from your government?

[LivinginKata]

There are truckloads of foreign workers in every country doing the jobs the locals dont want.
Do you think those lazy locals should get the dole or welfare at the expense of taxpayers?
Do You receive benefits from your government?

Dole and welfare here in Thailand. I think not ...

[N47HAN]

There is a pension for the old here.
My mother in law collects it religiously every month.

600thb , lol



Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Edited August 2, 2014 by N47HAN

[khounteen]

What is the name of this mysterious hotel I wonder.