ARTICLE 44
Soldiers can act against encroachers, Prayut says
THE NATION



In Songkran speech, PM says article 44 can be used to 'speed up' crackdowns

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha has said that Article 44 will allow soldiers to work with police and forestry officials in cracking down on those encroaching on forests and forest reserves.

"It is the Thai New Year now, but many [people] may not be happy because there are corrupt people who have broken the law and encroached upon forests,'' Prayut said yesterday, after Government House officials organised a merit-making ceremony on the occasion of Songkran for the PM and his wife Naraporn.

Prayut said he had signed an order under Article 44 on Wednesday in an attempt to solve the forest encroachment problem. Military officials can give orders to police or act on behalf of police officers in cases of shortage of police or forestry officials.

The military officials are empowered as police and would take recourse to regulations of police and related laws on forests and natural resources to carry out their duties in solving the problem of forest encroachment, he said.

"We use Article 44 to speed things up because the state agencies cannot carry out this responsibility, as they do not have enough people or their efforts to solve problems are stuck in red tape. The mission's success depends on whether the public and concerned officials cooperate,'' he said.

In Phetchabun, under a joint police, military and state officials operations to crack down on forest encroachment late last month, more than 10,000 rai (1,600 hectares) of land, that was a water source, was seized from encroachers believed to be local administrative executives.

They had felled trees and paved the vast land into a rubber plantation, which was about two years old.

Regarding Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's recent visit to Thailand, Prayut said the two countries had signed several agreements for cooperation on trade and investment.

"Every country has invested in Thailand - the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Whatever they say, we listen. Whatever they want to say, we still keep the same ties with them. We have never downgraded relationships with anyone but only strengthened [them]. Any country that has downgraded the relationship with us has acted on its own. Tomorrow is another day. We do our best today,'' he said.

"We are an independent and politically neutral country. We support every country in the world. We do not aim to fight anyone; we are just a small country,'' he said.

Prayut said people should not worry about Article 44 because he had never thought of exercising power against innocent people.

The PM called on the media to exercise judgement in news coverage because it was an important mechanism that helped keep the country safe and sound.

He said the public received 60 per cent of its information from the media.

"Sometimes some issues are not significant. Please refrain from presenting news in a way that causes divisiveness," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Soldiers-can-act-against-encroachers-Prayut-says-30257794.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-10

The sting in the tail of this story is yet another dig at the media.

In order to get the media and the news coverage he wants why doesn't he just have all releases, stories etc be approved in advance by the Ministry of Propaganda.

Hard to believe it's not thought about. It's logical Jim.

The police and forestry officials are not going to solve the encroachment problems which happened under their eyes so it is good that the Military will push this process along.

Don't present news in a way that causes divisiveness?

That leaves reporting the facts out of bounds. Guess they'll have to rename the media... mouthpedia.

What a disgusting scene on the photo.

People in line to.............

Meanwhile the dwindling number of honest folks are still waiting for the big crackdown on corruption to start.

Once the islands start getting worked over by article 44 and rid them of the mafias as promised after the Koh tao murders, he might receive some positive praise for a change and will show as well he's not going after one faction over the other. ?

Basically what that means is that it's now official: The Thai Police is unwillung or unable to do their job.

Why not sack them?

Wonder what powers they'll get next?

I find this interesting.

In my area ( not a national park or any kind of reserve) people have been farming government owned property for generations.

If it wasn't being farmed, it would just be vacant farm land adjacent to other farm land.

Are these farmers also at risk of being moved out as well?

I find this interesting.

In my area ( not a national park or any kind of reserve) people have been farming government owned property for generations.

If it wasn't being farmed, it would just be vacant farm land adjacent to other farm land.

Are these farmers also at risk of being moved out as well?

Only if they are red shirt supporters. Yellow shirt supporters get a pass.

I'll beleive section 44 is for the good of the country when the soldiers drag suthep out of the monastery.

What a disgusting scene on the photo.

People in line to.............

I thought it was very nice

What a disgusting scene on the photo.

People in line to.............

in line to wish a good new year

The police and forestry officials are not going to solve the encroachment problems which happened under their eyes so it is good that the Military will push this process along.

Spot on.

The military is starting to do what the corrupt civilian governments should have done long ago.

I find this interesting.

In my area ( not a national park or any kind of reserve) people have been farming government owned property for generations.

If it wasn't being farmed, it would just be vacant farm land adjacent to other farm land.

Are these farmers also at risk of being moved out as well?

If they do it illegal which means the do NOT own the property they should be kicked out. No question.

If I build a house on your land, I should be kicked out. Not different if it is state owned.

There are exceptions were farmer are allowed to farm in national parks because they were there before it got national park, but of course they have the official documents.

I find this interesting.

In my area ( not a national park or any kind of reserve) people have been farming government owned property for generations.

If it wasn't being farmed, it would just be vacant farm land adjacent to other farm land.

Are these farmers also at risk of being moved out as well?

Only if they are red shirt supporters. Yellow shirt supporters get a pass.

I'll beleive section 44 is for the good of the country when the soldiers drag suthep out of the monastery.

The red shirt supporters were protected by the last governments. The yellow shirts were not protected the last 15 years so I am sure there are much less cases. But I heard of cases in the South....unlikely that these were all southern red shirts....

Meanwhile the dwindling number of honest folks are still waiting for the big crackdown on corruption to start.

Both courts and police need a complete change....All cases can be dragged out till everyone involved die of old age....see Samak...

Ok stop the talking and go get the land back up at Bonanza

time to put your money where your mouth is

My apologies for not commenting on this article but my attention is brought to the photo. The latent overtones of it are screaming at me.

"The military officials are empowered as police"

And thus, Thailand becomes a POLICE STATE.

Basically what that means is that it's now official: The Thai Police is unwillung or unable to do their job.

Why not sack them?

Not really, it is just about giving the army even more licence to do exactly as it pleases.

So article 44 is just being used to speed up a process which otherwise might take years to resolve. Excellent idea. Well done general. Also loved the picture.

The police and forestry officials are not going to solve the encroachment problems which happened under their eyes so it is good that the Military will push this process along.

Spot on.

The military is starting to do what the corrupt civilian governments should have done long ago.

Nonsense!! Just shows how little, you know about Thailand.

In the areas we are talking about, the military is the power and has been so for decades!!

So the encroachment took place during their watch.... Blind eye in exchange for envelope...........

So article 44 is just being used to speed up a process which otherwise might take years to resolve. Excellent idea. Well done general. Also loved the picture.

Yes we all remember Mr P describing due process as red tape!!

Thaitanic steaming ahead.................

OK so I'm a bit slow, what are you seeing in the photo that I am not?

Gratuitous brown nosing?

OK so I'm a bit slow, what are you seeing in the photo that I am not?

Gratuitous brown nosing?

I always thought only royalty was bowed down too. Maybe he has his eye on yet another job.

re: Photo - I thought gatherings of 5 or more were illegal?

Great news. Now Please check shady land deals in phuket...samui....and suratthani