Misused land reform plots to be recalled

[Thaivisa News]

Bangkok – The authorities will cancel and repossess land reform plots which have been misused for non-agriculture purpose, Agriculture permanent secretary Chavalit Chookajorn said yesterday.

The land recall is meant to resolve the massive encroachment of national park and land reform areas, Chavalit said. The recall could affect many resort projects or holiday homes.

The gist of the problem is that developers and investors are building scenic resorts and vacation homes encroaching on forest areas. The encroachment is being done by unlawful manipulation of land rights for agriculture purpose.

The Agriculture Land Reform Office has been instructed to launch comprehensive checks on plots designated for agricultural purpose, particularly those located near Khao Yai National Park in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima.

A large number of land reform plots in Pak Chong have been developed for non-agricultural purpose and will be targeted for recall.

Under the land reform law, denuded forests are allowed for distribution to landless farmers. Developers colluded with settlers to change agricultural land rights into general-purpose plots.

The misused land reform plots would either be redistributed to landless farmers or restored as national park or forest reserve.

Some 32 million rai of denuded forests have been designated for land reform.

Of the 32 million rai, plots covering 1 million rai have yet to be distributed. And this is the area where most encroachment cases happened.

The distribution delay is attributed to claims by original settlers that they have land rights under the land legislation and not under the land reform and national park laws.

Under relevant laws, those settled before the designation of national park areas are permitted to keep their land rights.

They are liable, however, to present documents to prove their settlement. This has been repeatedly postponed until the plots change hands transforming them into resorts and vacation home.

The authorities said they will rely on the aerial survey to use as evidence for land reform area in order to litigate and evict those encroachers for misusing the plots for non-agricultural purpose.

[Local Drunk]

The most frightening aspect of this article is thirty-two million rai of denuded forests.

[soihok]

One of the worst offenders in my parents in law area is the local Wat, the abbot has used forest land to build opulent houses for his family from Bangkok.

The area is in Ampur Soongerng, next to Ampurs of Pak Thong Chai and Pak Chong.

[retarius]

The wages of corruption.....why not jail the offenders? Oops sorry forgot, they are people with money and so untouchable....corruption is killing Thailand.

[The Deerhunter]

In my opinion, more good news on the anti-corruption front. Not guaranteed to make all Thais happy. Especially the wealthy ones who paid bribes to fiddle land titles to build a holiday home, resort, hotel or residential village inside a park where landless farmers were allocated agricultural land. Yes, repossess it, re allocate it or repatriate it to the Park. If put back into the park it would be nice to see it given a kickstart by re-planting the original vegetation & tree-types. .Keep up the good work, General. (How much of this stuff did we ever see under Yingluck or her male blood-relative?)

Edited April 30, 2015 by The Deerhunter