Surayud: Khao Yai Thieng

Spotlight; 'MY PLACE'
5 February 2008
Bangkok Post

Locals set to welcome the former prime minister 'home'
Story by ANUCHA CHAROENPO

Visit Khao Yai Thieng and fill your lungs with the fresh, cool highland air once, then you will know why so many wealthy people, including former prime minister Surayud Chulanont, want to have a house there. To prove how beautiful the area is and to bid farewell to political reporters as he was leaving office, Gen Surayud recently organised a trip to his resort house, which is located on a 20-rai plot of land on Khao Yai Thieng, in Nakhon Ratchasima's Sikhiu district.

Sitting relaxed at the house, overlooking a stunning view of the Lam Takhong reservoir, Gen Surayud told reporters that he visited often before being appointed prime minister after the Sept 19, 2006, coup. There he likes to jog, take care of the garden, read books, camp and trek - activities he hardly had a chance to do after taking the prime minister's job. He said the Khao Yai Thieng open-house trip had nothing to do with ongoing investigations into his alleged illegal land acquisition and forest encroachment. The allegation surfaced shortly after he was appointed prime minister. Gen Surayud has repeatedly insisted that the land acquisition was clean and transparent.

Sudchai Boonchai, a leading member of the Saturday People Against Dictatorship, who made the accusation, submitted information and photos of the land - which was bought by Gen Surayud about 13 years ago when he was commander of the 2nd Army Region supervising the Northeast - to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC). However, the NCCC refused to look into the case, saying the law only allows it to carry out investigations into cases involving state officials who retired not more than two years after an alleged wrongdoing took place.

But an ethics committee under the National Legislative Assembly, led by Prasong Soonsiri, took up the case, as well as the land and forestry departments, which have been investigating the legality of the land acquisition and use. It is unclear when the inquiries will be completed or if the investigators will come up with any results at all. Gen Surayud's presence at Khao Yai Thieng might be a big issue for the general public, but not for villagers sharing the mountains with the former prime minister, who are very happy to have Gen Surayud as a neighbour.

Twenty-three years ago, the Forestry Department allowed hundreds of landless villagers to live on the mountains and make use of the land. The state did not grant them any land rights documents, but the occupants could legally make use of the land by paying land tax annually. Most villagers earn their living from growing winter fruits and vegetables, others run dairy farms and homestay businesses, while many of them sold their plots to land buyers. "Gen Surayud is not the only one who bought land from local villagers. Many rich people, especially businessmen and retired state officials, have also taken over land plots from the original occupiers," said Thongdee Siriwong, 66, a villager who has lived on the mountain for more than 30 years.

"I think the investigation is politically motivated. All the land owners on the mountain got their properties in the same way [as Gen Surayud]," he said. The former employee of the Channel 7 television station, who now runs a grocery shop in Khao Yai Thieng Nuea village, said he was glad to hear that the former prime minister will try to spend more time at his resort house so the villagers will have a chance to chat with him and get to know him. "I once saw him jogging past my house before he became the prime minister. I still remembered his smiling face. I wish I could see him more often, " he said. Khao Yai Thieng Tai villager Phao Sainak, 46, said she was waiting for Gen Surayud's return. "Everybody here loves and praises him so much because he has never caused anyone trouble. We're proud that we will have the former prime minister as our neighbour," said Mrs Phao.

Mrs Phao said that she was not surprised that Gen Surayud and other well-to-do people have chosen to buy or build resort homes in the area. It is an ideal retreat for old people and those with stressful jobs as they can live close to nature and relax, she said. Mrs Phao, who has lived there for more than three decades, recalled the days when Khao Yai Thieng was rich with natural resources and wild animals, such as rabbits, elephants, mouse deers and gibbons.

But with more people living in the area, the animals have disappeared or moved deeper into the forests. Mrs Pao said she wanted to see the former prime minister use his potential and ability to run a reforestation and wild animal protection project, to rehabilitate the ecological system.

Somwang Katemmad, a Khao Yai Thieng Tai village headman, said: " I am not interested in the investigations, no matter what the results will be. It's a nonsensical allegation. If he [Gen Surayud] was found guilty of unlawful intrusion, all the villagers here would also face the same charge."

Mr Somwang said he will hold a meeting with villagers on whether to host a welcoming ceremony for the return of the ex-prime minister. "We're happy to hear that he will visit the village more often after stepping down because he can help us develop our community and protect the natural resources," he said.