Famous agro-tourism farm in Pak Chong faces DSI probe for alleged encroachment

[webfact]

Famous agro-tourism farm in Pak Chong faces DSI probe for alleged encroachment

KORAT: -- Farm Chokechai, a fully integrated dairy farm perched on a vast stretch of plains amidst a scenic surrounding, and an agro-tourism spot in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, is now facing probe by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for alleged public land encroachment following complaints by neighbours that the new fence it built blocked their daily communication route.

DSI officials inspected the disputed fence yesterday to investigate.

They were escorted by some 20 families of people who lodged the complaint against the famous dairy farm.

DSI officials wanted to examine land title deeds currently owned by Farm Chokechai Farms after complaint over barriers that were erected to the entry and exit of a more than 3,000 rai property located along the periphery of Khao Yai National Park which is public land.

Also at present was the governor of Nakhon Ratchasima Vichien Chantharanichai.

The governor yesterday called a meeting of the committee for land allocation to discuss the matter of complaints from residents from the Ban Hin Ploeng village in Pak Chong district over Farm Chokechai’s action of closing off entry and exit points to their village.

At the meeting, it was said more than 200 title deeds have been issued to the farm and the disputed area was said to encroach upon public land located along the periphery of Khao Yai National Park.

All the deeds, issued since 2006, account for more than 3,000 rai of public land that raised the villager’s suspicions that the title deeds were illegally acquired.

The meeting agreed that aerial photographs are needed to be made available from the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Land Office’s records, along with relevant documentation pertaining to title deeds to property currently owned by the farm.

After on the spot inspection, the governor said initial investigations have so far uncovered that there are 10 deeds that have been verified as encroaching into public land such as a two-kilometre stretch of road.

As for the lands directly adjacent the road that account for around 3,000 rai of property, he stated that all the relevant details were being looked into before any judgment can be made over the legality of the ownership.

But he said a committee has already been set up to oversee legal proceedings on the revoking of the first lot of 10 deeds that have been verified as directly encroaching upon public lands and roads.

A field inspection to question local people will be made soon to get first hand information to see if any other public lands have also been encroached upon.

He assured that legal proceedings will ensue to have these properties returned to the state if encroachment is proved.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/160239


-- Thai PBS 2016-04-20

[clockman]

Every one is suspect! All crooked till proved otherwise?

[ezzra]

The winds of change are blowing now and even the mighty like Chokchai people are not immund....

[ddavidovsky]

What happened to the Bonanza Khao Yai racing circuit that was proven to have encroached last year? Was that demolished and the land returned to forest?

Until that actually happens I presume this is just more window-dressing.

[Gandtee]

Those doggone pesky farmers rising up against us cowpokes. It's time to saddle up boys. This is a land war. Make sure you're packin!

[tuanku]

If this area (Muak Lek to Wang nam Kheow) were to be properly investigated, the list of encroachers would read like a catalogue of the great and good of Thai HISO society together with a large proportion of all the general, admirals, air marshals, senior politicians, Police chiefs, etc who have retired over the last 50 years.

Its NOT going to happen.