Villagers on SEZ land told to be selfless

[webfact]

Villagers on SEZ land told to be selfless
The Nation

Those against expropriation urged to put country first, promised compensation

BANGKOK: -- THE government has urged villagers protesting the expropriation of land for a special economic zone in Tak's Mae Sot district to disregard self-interest for the sake of the country while reaffirming affected residents will receive compensation.

Members of the Thai Journalists Association's Environmental News Club visited the area for three days this month to investigate the matter and were reportedly closely monitored by police and military officers.

While there, the reporters received information from the Mae Sot Rak Thin Group, which met with Naresuan Task Force chief Maj-General Nopporn Reunchan on October 17 - the last day of the media visit.

Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Keawkamnerd said the government was determined to propel the country forward and take care of the industry and agriculture sectors.

The government did not want people to be preoccupied with their own interests and neglect the county, he said.

Sansern said the government was not ignoring the plight of residents in Ban Moo 4 and 7 in Tambon Tha Sai Luad.

He said provincial officials had discussed the matter with related agencies continuously and had taken the names of affected residents and had gathered land-use information and details about buildings and crops in the area so residents would be compensated appropriately.

"But now the officials aren't getting cooperation from the villagers so I beg them to accept the rule of law, which is the social norm, and to join talks for the majority's benefit," Sansern said.

When looking for special economic zones, the government chose areas with high economic potential and prioritised state-owned land, deteriorated forestland and public land, and sought to avoid expropriation except when there was an exchange of land with the private sector, he said.

However he said a lot of state-owned land had been encroached upon by people who did not have proper land-rights documents or whose land-rights papers were not yet proved.

As a result, he said, the National Council for Peace and Order chief, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, issued order 17/2015 so he could use the absolute authority afforded to him under Article 44 of the interim charter to solve the issue and accelerate the pace for establishing SEZs.

The authorities would speedily prove the villagers' rights, negotiate with them and provide compensation, which could involve finding land for them to live on.

"We haven't ignored the local people's woes," Sansern said.

He urged media members to consider information they obtained thoroughly and not present one-sided information, because they, being society's mirror, should not promote social disunity.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Villagers-on-SEZ-land-told-to-be-selfless-30271424.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-23

[Srikcir]

"accept the rule of law, which is the social norm"

Not a very good reason from the government. In Thailand it has been the social norm to hold absolute power over the Thai people through coup d'etat.

[ratcatcher]

I sure hope the present occupants of the land designated as SEZ are selfless enough to understand the need for richer more selfish people to move in and profit from the SEZ..

Let us hope the real occupants are compensated fairly when removed.

[Praematura]

Promises payment? When a Thai keeps his promise an angel gets its wings I'm told.

[phoenixdoglover]

The government will only use Article 44 to propel the country forward.

This army is powerful because all its members have a conscious discipline; they have come together and they fight not for the private interests of a few individuals or a narrow clique, but for the interests of the broad masses and of the whole nation. The sole purpose of this army is to stand firmly with the Chinese people and to serve them whole-heartedly.

Mao Tse -tung, 1945

[cockatoowho]

Just wants to make you puke, all that putrid vile that pours out of some peoples mouths.

[gandalf12]

Promises payment? When a Thai keeps his promise an angel gets its wings I'm told.

So all angels are without wings?

[tbthailand]

Villagers on SEZ land told to be selfless

because the BKK elite and their muscle are said to be "selfish".

Jeez, the morons running the show right now are just so transparent - makes you wanna puke....

[MaiChai]

SEZ in Mae Sot? So Thai companies can use cheap labour across the boarder that they can send back every night? This is not so much about the country and more about profit for big business. There is huge mountain range between Mae Sot and Thailand and very little flat land around the area. Seems unfair villages should give up the little land that is available?