I met Mr Independent

[Sydebolle]

"After one month of survey of the land in 12 provinces, it was discovered that up to 110,000 rai of land have fallen into the hands of just 105 individuals, many of them politicians, plantation owners and rich businessmen."

Have fallen from where please?

[Sviss Geez]

Love Thai maths!!

The headline: "105 people..........................."

And then the breakup : 54+17+122+11= 105??

Hope they are better at measuring land than maths!!

It's very simple, the survey was country-wide and some of those individuals control land in more than one province so they are counted multiple times.

[Sviss Geez]

Just a small typo

54+17+1+22+11=105

Just a small misinterpretation of the report.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Wonder how many % of the Elite of Thailand are on the run or accused of some kind of crime or corruption scheme? Feels like there are not many honest Thais among the "Upper class" in this country.

[Chicog]

So what's the betting they all have valid ownership papers?

i.e. "I can only give you poor farmers this land if you agree to sell it straight back to me at <peanuts> per rai"?

[impulse]

Love Thai maths!!

The headline: "105 people..........................."

And then the breakup : 54+17+122+11= 105??

Hope they are better at measuring land than maths!!

It's very simple, the survey was country-wide and some of those individuals control land in more than one province so they are counted multiple times.

No matter how many times you count 'em, 122 + X is greater than 105.

[tonbridgebrit]

Thailand needs land reform, and needs it badly.

Yes, take this land, and allow people who have no land to pay rent (at a below market rate) for it. And once they've been on that land for a few years, then, then allow the people (the tenants) to buy it at a below market price.

Thailand needs land reform, Thailand must become a country where land is more evenly distributed and owned by people. Otherwise, Thailand will stay forever a backward and poor nation. The junta can surely, easily win the next general election by actually doing this.

[oldsailor35]

Don't know why, but the names Newin and Suthep popped up in my head!!

Suthep is still in the temple with his now enlightenened mind haigh above the greast greed of the daily grind ....

In the temple maybe ! but in his element still collecting from the faithfull.

[oldsailor35]

Sutheps legacy.

I notice that the biggest share of Kor Sor Bor land held by rich individuals is held in the South . A total of 52,000 Rai is held there by just 11 rich men.

It is well known that Khun Suthep had a lot to do with this whilst he was the Agricultural minister, in fact he had to resign to avoid impeachment, when it was exposed that he had given land reserved for poor farmers on Phuket to Hi-so friends. Apparently, they still own this land. If the general is as genuine as some think, he will take it away from them and give it to the ones it was intended for.

[Arwon]

Just wondering about this issue, my wife heard a lot of people to the south of Pak Thong Chai have been told to pack and move. They were also told not to bother paying the land tax? My wife's family has been farming Kor Sor Bor land for years and are a bit concerned, any advice?

[JOC]

Don't know why, but the names Newin and Suthep popped up in my head!!

I doubt this is something that is confined to one side of the political divide.

Cough, cough.................

I picked those two names, to make exactly that point!!

[ableguy]

Isn't this protected land owned by the Gov?

If so then Prayuth should do the right thing. Tear what has been built and arrest the politicians who illegally encroached on Gov land ans fibd out who permitted them to do so and prosecute them too

Good thinking but not a bloody chance.

[orpheus454]

So what's the betting they all have valid ownership papers?

i.e. "I can only give you poor farmers this land if you agree to sell it straight back to me at <peanuts> per rai"?

It is illegal to buy or sell this type of title. That is, both the seller and the buyer can be liable for prosecution.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Sutheps legacy.

I notice that the biggest share of Kor Sor Bor land held by rich individuals is held in the South . A total of 52,000 Rai is held there by just 11 rich men.

It is well known that Khun Suthep had a lot to do with this whilst he was the Agricultural minister, in fact he had to resign to avoid impeachment, when it was exposed that he had given land reserved for poor farmers on Phuket to Hi-so friends. Apparently, they still own this land. If the general is as genuine as some think, he will take it away from them and give it to the ones it was intended for.

Yeah, and wasn't there some moron banging on about how filthy foreigners were buying up all the land on Phuket?

This is how you get ahead in this country: Lie, cheat, steal, kill.

[BirdsandBooze]

Wonder how many % of the Elite of Thailand are on the run or accused of some kind of crime or corruption scheme? Feels like there are not many honest Thais among the "Upper class" in this country.

Being extremely wealthy doesn't necessarily equate to being an Elite. Thaksin and Nopporn are examples of super rich non Elites. It is highly unlikely any bona fide Elites will get a tap on the shoulder or a knock on the door in the middle of the night.

[noitom]

Thai big men occupy earmarked land with impunity. This will result in fixing up chanotes to supposedly transfer the land to poor Thai farmers, but there will be plenty of fine print so as to set up defaults in the future and restoration of the land in the hands of Thai big men. Business as usual in the land swindle and manipulation in Thailand.

[In Search of Space]

I want to know their full names and see their faces!!!!

I want to see pointing fingers

[moe666]

.........please don't say it was a 'mistake' or 'an oversight'...

Both

[BSJ]

Love Thai maths!!

The headline: "105 people..........................."

And then the breakup : 54+17+122+11= 105??

Hope they are better at measuring land than maths!!

Love farang reading comprehension!!

Some of the 105 individuals occupy land in different provinces. Obvious from the article. E.g Mr X is one of the 54 in province A, and he is also one of the 17 in province B.

I am a bit concerned about your comprehension! If some individuals occupy land in multiple provinces the most excellent journalists would say so,yes?

"The followings are the breakup of Sor Por Kor land occupation by these individuals: 14,000 rai in northern provinces occupied by 54 individuals; 9,800 rai in northeastern provinces occupied by 17 individuals; 36,000 rai in the central provinces occupied by 122 individuals and 52,000 rai in southern provinces occupied by 11 individuals."

[jcisco]

This land is non transferable right? Then it should be airtight against the usual tactic of an illegal transfer of land then followed by a legal sale. Which will in most parts of the world disposes the original land owner and enrichen the thief, with no recourse for the original owner.

So I wouldn't say that the concept of this title is at all bad, it just appears that some how it can be transferred. Further more how did they go about identifying the individuals who are in control of each particular Rai. If the land titles are non transferable, there wouldn't be a paper trail, and surely there is not a sign on every rai saying unto whom posses it.

Someone who knows about this titles, anyone know more about this???

[cornishcarlos]

What makes anyone think the good General will be doing anything about this?

Probably a very good chance that either him or some close relatives are on that list

[ratcatcher]

Don't know why, but the names Newin and Suthep popped up in my head!!

Suthep is still in the temple with his now enlightenened mind haigh above the greast greed of the daily grind ....

In the temple maybe ! but in his element still collecting from the faithfull.

That's original sailor boy. See post #27.

[SantiSuk]

Deleted - my point on the maths has already been answered multiple times.

Edited December 8, 2014 by SantiSuk