Investigation into new land matter dismissed by Anutin
In a series of developments, the long-standing Alpine land scandal and the Khao Kradong dispute have once again come under scrutiny, with both cases involving political figures and administrative decisions.
The sale of the Alpine land, a 924-rai plot in Pathum Thani, is linked to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his daughter Paetongtarn, the current suspended prime minister. Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, served as interior minister before leaving the ruling coalition. During his tenure, he claimed that all actions taken were lawful, including the Alpine land case that was one of the controversial land cases investigated.
However, the Department of Lands (DoL) failed to comply with a 2021 Supreme Court ruling in favour of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) regarding the Khao Kradong land dispute in Buri Ram. The SRT claimed ownership of the land, but some title deeds have not been revoked due to political and administrative decisions made prior to the current government.
Among these unrevoked deeds are 20 that cover 288 rai of land linked to the influential Chidchob family, major figures in the Bhumjaithai Party. The decision to leave these land titles intact was made during Anutin's tenure as interior minister, raising questions about political influence.
In response, the new Interior Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, has demanded an explanation from the DoL and is considering forming a fact-finding committee if the explanations are incomplete or unclear. The SRT is now actively cooperating with the Ministry of Interior and the DoL, seeking to re-examine previous decisions and provide new evidence, aiming to annul those land ownership certificates in line with the court's ruling.
Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed the renewed scrutiny as a bid to settle political scores. He asserted that he did not use political influence to interfere or intimidate civil servants during his tenure. Phumtham, on the other hand, will not set a deadline to avoid imposing pressure that might compromise the fairness of the inquiry.
In January this year, a revocation order for the Shinawatra family's ownership of the Alpine Golf and Sports Club and an adjacent residential complex was signed by former deputy interior minister Chada Thaiseth from Bhumjaithai. The Khao Kradong land is also claimed by private individuals with ties to the Bhumjaithai Party.
These developments highlight the complexities of land disputes in Thailand and the ongoing efforts to ensure justice and uphold the law in these cases. The new investigations promise to shed light on the Alpine land scandal and the Khao Kradong dispute, potentially leading to the reclamation of contested land for the state.
- The Alpine land scandal, involving political figures like Thaksin Shinawatra and his daughter Paetongtarn, as well as the Khao Kradong dispute, have reignited discussions in the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news, as these cases revolve around political influence and administrative decisions.
- The ongoing investigations into the Alpine land scandal and the Khao Kradong dispute, which have political implications due to links to high-profile political figures, are indicative of the continuous struggle in Thai politics to uphold the law and ensure justice in controversial land cases.
