Khao Kradong row claims new victims
The dispute between the State Railway of Thailand, land owners and thousands of land dwellers who have acquired title deeds over the area in past decades, reflects political fighting between the coalition leader Pheu Thai Party, and former coalition member Bhumjaithai Party.
Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has given the director-general of the Land Department seven days to explain why he has not complied with the court's order to reclaim approximately 800 hectares (5,000 rai) of land at Khao Kradong in Muang district of Buri Ram.
Successive court decisions have found the land is legally owned by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) rather than the alleged trespassers, among them the Chidchob family, who are tied to the Bhumjaithai Party.
He said the Land Department's director-general, Pornpote Phenpat, will face the consequences if he fails to clarify clearly what has happened.
He also said he had instructed the interior permanent secretary to set up a panel to clear up the Khao Kradong controversy and find out why the department has refused to revoke the land occupation documents, such as Sor Kor 1 and Nor Sor documents, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
They were issued to hundreds of trespassers who have claimed occupation rights over the land.
Responding to Mr Phumtham's move, Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul insisted that, while serving as the interior minister, he and the Land Department complied with the law and had not done anything in favour of the Chidchob family.
He said the court had handed down a ruling on the land case before he was made interior minister.
The Chidchob family is reported to occupy about 150 rai of land at Khao Kradong which has been developed into the Chang International Arena, and another piece of larger plot, about 1,200 rai, currently known as the Chang International Circuit.
These sport events are popular, generating revenue for locals. The Thailand motorcycle Grand Prix held there is an international circuit for professional motorcycle competitions.
The Khao Kradong controversy is widely viewed as a tit-for-tat between the parties, with Pheu Thai Party getting back at the Chidchob family over the latter's move against the Shinawatra family over the Alpine golf course controversy.
The SRT filed suits to reclaim plots, held by several individuals at Khao Kradong, but not against the Chidchob family whose patriarch, Newin Chidchob, is reputed to be the de facto leader of the Bhumjaithai Party.
In 2017, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the SRT. But the SRT, under the supervision of Transport Ministry which was then controlled by the Bhumjaithai Party, refused to revoke the land documents held by the alleged trespassers.
The case was later raised with the Administrative Court which also ruled in favour of the SRT. However, the case is still pending with the Supreme Administrative Court.
The Administrative Court ruled the Land Department was not authorised to issue the land documents because the land belong to the SRT.
However, it ordered the SRT and the Land Department to set up a joint panel to work out a solution.
The Land Department said the SRT is a party in the dispute and so is unable to sit on the joint panel. The department has demanded the SRT submit a map to prove its ownership rights.
Legal expert, Jade Dhonavanik, said the map presented by the SRT was dated in 1996 which was not the one, dated 1921 demanded by department.
Meanwhile, the department also produced four maps, dated 1954, 1968, 1986 and 2014, all of them different, said Mr Jade, adding the SRT has also failed to submit a new map to the department as required to prove its ownership in the dispute.
Hence, the dispute remains unresolved. What is certain is high ranking officials are becoming casualties of politically-involved conflicts.
The problem also reflects the issue of state lands grabbed by individual and influential political figures in the past.
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