Agencies launch sweeping land reclamation campaigns

The agencies will start next Tuesday and Wednesday by inspecting 10,000 rai (1,600 hectares) in Krabi, DMCR deputy chief Sakda Wichiensilpa told a press conference yesterday.
Sakda added that national-level politicians with the initials “S” or “P” were allegedly involved with the encroachment cases.
Isoc spokesman Pirawat Sangthong said authorities have already reclaimed 11,781 rai, 78.54 per cent of this year’s goal to reclaim 15,000 rai.
Eighty per cent of encroached land in Phuket, Krabi, Trat and Ranong has been converted into shrimp farms, with other land use including restaurants, resorts and golf courses, Sakda said.
He added that encroachment has been carried out in two ways: undocumented takeovers, which could face immediate legal action; and intrusions backed by fraudulent land-title documents, which will require investigations into the probity of the issuance of the documents.
In a related case, the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) plans to commission the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate senior officials allegedly involved in the illegitimate issuance of land deeds for the International Bonanza Speedway in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district.
PACC secretary-general Prayong Preeyajit yesterday said the transfer of the case is normal procedure because the NACC is authorised to launch criminal investigations against state officials of the rank C-8. He added that provincial agencies are already revoking illegal deeds and reclaiming the speedway’s land.
A source said agency investigations of alleged encroachment of forestland in Khao Siad-ar, Khao Nok Yung and Khao Ang Hin hills concluded the speedway infringed upon 166 rai of state-owned land, including forest reserves, Agricultural Land Reform Office land and public canal areas.
Bonanza previously presented Nor Sor 3 Kor land deeds covering 56 of the 166 rai. However, Nakhon Ratchasima Governor Thongchai Leu-adul last August signed a revocation order of the land deeds, which were deemed to have been issued illegitimately.
The Land Department is reviewing the deed revocation, the source said.