Thai Army stops land reform group's plan for long march

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Army stops land reform group's plan for long march
NISANATH KUNGWANWONG
THE NATION



PEASANT FEDERATION TO TALK TO PANADDA ON THURSDAY ABOUT FOREST EVICTIONS

BANGKOK: -- A MARCH from Chiang Mai to Bangkok planned by the Northern Peasant Federation's "First Step for Land Reform" was halted yesterday by the Army.

Federation members were told not to proceed with their planned march to Bangkok in order to submit a petition instead to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha as part of their campaign for land reform.

The group gathered at Wat Suan Dok in Chiang Mai's Muang district yesterday morning amid the presence of some 100 Army and police officers.

It was about to begin the march when security forces detained two of its leaders, Chulalongkorn University political science lecturer Prapart Pintobtang and Phrae forest group's Pisist Taja, in a truck for 10 minutes before releasing them.

At about 1pm, other leaders, including Prayong Doklamyai, Suriyan Thongnu-eiad and Niran Luke, were brought to speak with 33rd Military Circle chief of staff Colonel Jirawat Chulakul. In the meeting, Jirawat asked the group to co-operate and not proceed with the demonstration.

He said he understood the |group had long ago submitted petitions in a bid to get help for the poor and in relation to retail farmer land issues.

Jirawat said he was confident the government was trying to solve the problems and everything would be done in steps. He would contact his superiors to see if the matter could be brought to an end and get back to them.

He later told the group he had arranged for them to talk with PM's Office Minister ML Panadda Diskul at Chiang Mai City Hall on Thursday. As a result, the demonstration was called off.

Crackdown not meant to hurt poor

The planned march was in response to the Prayut government's crackdown on forest encroachment by investors, influential figures and illegal loggers.

Under the crackdown, emphasis was supposed to be placed on there being minimal impact on the underprivileged living on the land, an informed source said.

However, the source said officers reportedly operated the crackdown without discrimination and allegedly threatened villagers, leaving them concerned about their ability to lead a normal life.

Prayong said the group submitted a petition via the 33rd Military Circle to the National Council for Peace and Order in June in which it sought help to solve the land problem. On July 28, Prayong said the group also called for a review of encroachment crackdown operations and for the land issue to be put on the national agenda.

On October 7, its representatives joined a protest, which led to talks with Panadda. Seven days later it petitioned the prime minister, the Internal Security Operations Command and the governors of nine upper northern provinces in a bid to have the matter addressed, but the group said there had been no response.

The federation wants a review the master plan to conserve forest and natural resources and four draft laws for land reform to become legislation.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Army-stops-land-reform-groups-plan-for-long-march-30247362.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-10

[Suriya4]

ML is a billionaire. I am sure he will donates thousands of baht of his own wealth to help these 2 poor chaps. Case close.

[RustBucket]

How many other countries will give free land to the poor?

I can't think of any.

But it is not enough for Thais, they want more.

No wonder they can't develop, they remain as dependant as infants their entire life and tit feeding them constantly won't help them to grow up and take the bull by the horns.

[chainarong]

Good to see freedom of expression being exposed by the Junta , there is a need for General Prayuth to listen to all sides, it will be doubtful if this happens, birds of a feather stick together.

[englishoak]

How many other countries will give free land to the poor?

I can't think of any.

But it is not enough for Thais, they want more.

No wonder they can't develop, they remain as dependant as infants their entire life and tit feeding them constantly won't help them to grow up and take the bull by the horns.

They effectively give free land to corrupt Politicians, Military Generals, Businessmen, Civil Servants and connected "friends" here so why indeed not the poor ?

Regular working class Thais want because they see others getting something for nothing they shouldnt.

The development issue is down to intended poor education of the masses and poor governance aside from the rich mainly feathering their own nests for decades, and I do mean decades plural not just the Shin era.This isnt going to change anytime soon and if a certain camp get their way it'll become even more draconian.

The only way the poor will get a slice of anything is by demanding and they know it.

[DeepInTheForest]

How many other countries will give free land to the poor?

I can't think of any.

But it is not enough for Thais, they want more.

No wonder they can't develop, they remain as dependant as infants their entire life and tit feeding them constantly won't help them to grow up and take the bull by the horns.

Are we being sufficiently judgmental here?

Land grabs are part of the odious history of conquest and domination practiced by whoever happens to have the upper hand. They show no sign of abating.

That doesn't make them right, or practical in the long run.

[seajae]

the problem is that when the poor are given land they promptly turn around and sell it to the rich, this is why you see rich leaders of these groups, they know that they will benefit themselves by helping and then buying the land cheap. Its time that the "poor farmers" were made to earn their living, as someone else has suggested the govt should set of farms utilizing all the modern technology and machinery and the farmers working these area be given housing and a wage, that way they have a home and income, they cannot sell the land off and the govt will be making money on the produce grown. Just giving them land is not on, same with them being allowed to clear national parks to farm, they need to be stopped and taught to do it right.

[Krataiboy]

What kind of crap journalism is this? Who was the so-called "informed source" allegedly speaking on behalf of hundreds of farmers who presumably hadn't decided to march 500 miles or thereabouts to confront the government without having a pretty good cases to argue.

So why no interviews with the marchers themselves, giving them the opportunity to air their grievances before the public?

Journalists need to show more courage and resolve in defending their rights, as watchdogs for the people, to report what is really going on - otherwise they are likely to lose them.

[MaiChai]

The answer is to rent/lease land to the poor and ensure it continues to be owned by the state. Not all poor people are good people and some in the past have sold it on for a quick profit.

[Alwyn]

How many other countries will give free land to the poor?

I can't think of any.

But it is not enough for Thais, they want more.

No wonder they can't develop, they remain as dependant as infants their entire life and tit feeding them constantly won't help them to grow up and take the bull by the horns.

How about China, India and Brazil?

[Alwyn]

the problem is that when the poor are given land they promptly turn around and sell it to the rich, this is why you see rich leaders of these groups, they know that they will benefit themselves by helping and then buying the land cheap. Its time that the "poor farmers" were made to earn their living, as someone else has suggested the govt should set of farms utilizing all the modern technology and machinery and the farmers working these area be given housing and a wage, that way they have a home and income, they cannot sell the land off and the govt will be making money on the produce grown. Just giving them land is not on, same with them being allowed to clear national parks to farm, they need to be stopped and taught to do it right.

But aren't these the people who had lived in the forests for decades without selling land off? How can they sell land they don't have any title to?

[Alwyn]

So they evict these people who have lived in the forests for decades only to "giveG the land to different poor people? Exactly the same is happening in Phuket right now. All of the massage girls were evicted from Karon beach because it was "illegal". Now these have been cleared the municipal government are allowing 80 massage tables to return. But the massage girls must be "local". What a crock of sh*te

[Bluespunk]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775235-11-million-rai-of-land-are-to-be-reclaimed-for-redistribution-to-farmers/

Are these two events linked I wonder?

[martinhp]

How many other countries will give free land to the poor?

I can't think of any.

But it is not enough for Thais, they want more.

No wonder they can't develop, they remain as dependant as infants their entire life and tit feeding them constantly won't help them to grow up and take the bull by the horns.

It seams like you need to learn something or two if the brain don't get over loaded

Why you think the bed on beaches is gone with the different sales

Who owns the big hotels with pool and who are competitor for same

Answer very rich Thais own the hotels and the poor try the beaches

The rich do not want to share and do whatever it takes to control the country and they use the king to legalize this same like the dictator PM

the sun beds are just an example of haw they rich think

only care for them selves thaksin tried to equalize things a bid and got convicted by military junta and as a military junta is illegal they can not convict any body but the rich Thais are use to get away with any thing even murder and the military and the rich Thais are same

So many reasons for give the land to the poor they can not get the power here first thaksin then yingluck

And now no election again and if you think the most Thais gonna elect the foul in charge here you wrong

[chotthee]

March all the way to Bangkok to send a letter to PM General Prayuth?

Thai people never heard of E-MAIL?

[DeepInTheForest]

March all the way to Bangkok to send a letter to PM General Prayuth?

Thai people never heard of E-MAIL?

You are right. Emails to national leaders have proven to be so effective. What was Gandhi thinking on his march to the sea, or MLK thinking during his march on Washington? They should have sent another letter to the British PM or the US president instead...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_March

Edited November 10, 2014 by DeepInTheForest

[Robespiere]

How many other countries will give free land to the poor?

I can't think of any.

But it is not enough for Thais, they want more.

No wonder they can't develop, they remain as dependant as infants their entire life and tit feeding them constantly won't help them to grow up and take the bull by the horns.

How many other developing countries have maintained such a large landless peasantry up till the present day through manipulation of the political system by men with guns?

Wrongs are being righted - all thanks to Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra.