No sign of Community Chanotes for impoverished Phuket villages

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No sign of Community Chanotes for impoverished Phuket villages
Phuket Gazette


Former Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut (gray shirt) had vowed to personally follow up on the Klong Koh Pee Community Chanote. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- The Community Chanote plan that would guarantee 18 impoverished communities on Phuket the right to live where they have been squatting for generations has stalled out.

“As of today, there is no further information about the plan,” said Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul. “Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do until we get word from Bangkok.”

In 2013, then-Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led a team to one such village to hear their top concern: they have been waiting for years to be issued a Community Chanote land document.

“Eighteen communities [in Phuket] have requested a Community Chanote,” Governor Maitri explained to the villagers at the time. “So far, three communities – Klong Koh Pee, as well as the Tah Sak and Ao Yon communities in Pa Khlok – have passed the fourth and final step in the process.”

However, the applications are now in the hands of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Bangkok. The officials there must vet the applications and present them to Cabinet for final approval.

Full story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/No-sign-Community-Chanotes-impoverished-Phuket-villages/62566?desktopversion#ad-image-0


-- Phuket Gazette 2015-12-08

[GiantFan]

Who's land is it and are they paying anything for it? Just because you have squatted for a a period shouldn't mean you have any rights on the land.

[bearpolar]

Who's land is it and are they paying anything for it? Just because you have squatted for a a period shouldn't mean you have any rights on the land.

Does not matter, even the biggest HiSo companies cannot beat those squatter's right.

[DrDave]

Who's land is it and are they paying anything for it? Just because you have squatted for a a period shouldn't mean you have any rights on the land.

I agree that squatters shouldn't have rights to the land they occupy, however under Thai law, squatters can gain ownership of chanote land if they can prove continuous occupation for 10 or more years. I believe that the required occupation period is even shorter for lesser titles.