Land claimants at Khao Kradong are urged to adhere to the legal process, as Phumtham asserts, and he also corroborates that the SRT possesses a genuine land requisition map.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has officially reclaimed 5,000 rai (approximately 800 hectares) of land in Khao Kradong, Buriram, following investigations that confirmed the land as state-owned. Originally granted to the SRT by a royal decree in 1919, the central area of Khao Kradong was previously under private ownership, including plots held by the influential Chidchob family.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has urged affected land claimants to prove the legitimacy of their land titles through legal channels. The government is committed to verifying ownership claims on an individual basis and will compensate those who legally purchased land. If any actions taken by the authorities are proven to be wrong, there will be no issue in rectifying them.
Phumtham Wechayachai has denied allegations that the SRT did not have a map attached to the land requisition decree for Khao Kradong, affirming that the SRT’s land maps are valid. The responsibility of managing the Khao Kradong area lies with the Director-General of the Department of Lands and the SRT Governor.
Companies linked to the land, such as those operating the Buriram racetrack and football stadium, have announced plans to sue the authorities for losses caused by the land withdrawal. The government advises that such disputes be resolved through the courts, and if any administrative errors are found, corrections will be made accordingly.
It is important to note that the number of affected citizens by the Khao Kradong land reclamation project remains small. Phumtham Wechayachai emphasized that they are not seeking to harm anyone in the Khao Kradong land reclamation process.
This ongoing legal and administrative effort aims to enforce state ownership while addressing claims individually through the legal system. Affected landowners must be prepared to prove the legitimacy of their land titles and follow due process, guided by court rulings.
- The government's policy-and-legislation towards Khao Kradong requires affected landowners to prove the legitimacy of their land titles through legal channels, as emphasized by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
- Despite the ongoing legal and administrative effort regarding Khao Kradong, some companies, even those operating sports facilities like the Buriram football stadium, have threatened to sue the authorities due to losses caused by the land withdrawal, as stated in the general news.
