Surayud: Khao Yai Thieng

Suwit won't hurry on land
15 January 2010
Bangkok Post

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti has brushed off calls from the prime minister for a quick end to the controversy surrounding the forest land held by Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont.

"Everything has to be done to the same standard," Mr Suwit said yesterday.

"If we speed just Gen Surayud's case, how about the rest? We don't want to be seen as working to a double standard.

"We can't say if we will wrap it up in seven days, but we will proceed with urgency."

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday pressed the Royal Forestry Department to quickly find a solution to Gen Surayud's land holding at Khao Yai Thieng in Nakhon Ratchasima's Sikhiu district. The department comes under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

Critics say Gen Surayud, a former premier and army chief, encroached on the land, where he keeps a holiday home.

A ministry panel is waiting for a report from the Office of the Attorney-General, but has promised to conclude its inquiry into land encroachment cases in the area in seven days.

Mr Abhisit on Wednesday argued that the panel should go ahead because the OAG had already issued clear guidelines on how to handle the case.

The OAG had said the former army chief was not guilty of forest encroachment but his possession of the land was contrary to a 1975 cabinet resolution which granted land possession rights in the area to villagers and their heirs only.

Department deputy chief Chonlatid Suraswadi, also a co-chairman of the committee dealing with forest encroachment cases, said the panel was looking at many cases, not just the one concerning Gen Surayud.