Surayud: Khao Yai Thieng

Surayud pulls down house
250 Khao Yai Thiang families fear same fate

* Published: 22/01/2010 at 12:00 AM
* Bangkok Post

Privy councillor Surayud Chulanont has begun moving out of his resort home on Khao Yai Thiang after authorities confirmed he was not entitled to occupy the forest land.

Suthep Pawareswitayalan, above, director of the Forest ResourceManagement Office, points to forest areas on Khao Yai Thiang.Heand Cholathis Suraswadi, deputydirector-general of the Royal Forest Department, right, are investigating the illegal occupation of land on the mountain which was intended for landless farmers.

Six-wheeler trucks were seen entering the home's compound yesterday afternoon and then leaving again with piles of wood, a roof structure and a water tank.

One villager said Gen Surayud had started moving his belongings on Wednesday.

The Royal Forest Department has informed Gen Surayud officially in writing he has 30 days to vacate his home and dismantle all structures.

Department deputy chief Cholathis Suraswadi said the letter was sent to Gen Surayud on Wednesday. It states he has no legal grounds to the land in line with a 1975 cabinet resolution allocating the forest land to landless farmers.

"It means he must return the land to the department within 30 days," said Mr Cholathis, who inspected the Khao Yai Thiang land in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday.

Gen Surayud has 15 days to appeal against the department's decision.

Mr Cholathis said the department would drop a criminal case against Gen Surayud because he had not been found guilty of encroaching on the forest.

But the general may be subject to a civil suit. The department will investigate to see if his occupation of the land had damaged it in any way.

The Royal Forest Department insists the land occupied by Gen Surayud came under the forest village programme of 1975 under which land was distributed to landless people on the condition it could not be transferred to anyone other than a legal heir.

Asix-wheel truck loaded with personal belongings is seen leaving privy councillor Surayud Chulanont’s holidayhomeon Khao Yai Thiang. JETJARAS NARANONG

Gen Surayud initially had about 21 rai on Khao Yai Thiang but it allegedly "grew" over the years.

Many other owners of Khao Yai Thiang property are thought to occupy land in contravention of the cabinet resolution.

Suthep Phavareswityaral, chief of a subcommittee investigating land transfers at Khao Yai Thiang, said a premliminary examination had found only two tracts of land were still in the hands of the original owners.

His inquiry is expected to come up with a full survey on the land ownership by early next month.

Uthai Sangchanthuek, head of tambon Khlong Phai in Sikhiu district, said the order evicting Gen Surayud had raised concerns among the more than 250 families who live in two villages on the mountain.

They are not sure about the legal status of the land they occupy. Each family has about 14 rai of land granted to them by the Royal Forest Department for farming.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti yesterday said Gen Surayud's case was an example for other illegal land occupants to follow by returning their land to the state. The occupants must return the land or face prosecution for intentionally taking over land in a forest reserve.

A source said the Royal Forest Department and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation were now seeking to take legal action against the owner of Soi Dao Highland Golf Club and Resort in Chanthaburi for encroaching on 400 rai of Khao Soi Dao wildlife sanctuary and forest reserve.

The golf course covers 4,000 rai.