Prime Minister endorses Sri Lanka Army's claim over contended land area
Ongoing Legal Dispute Over Khao Kradong Land in Buri Ram
There is an ongoing legal dispute between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and individuals holding land titles over a significant area of approximately 5,083 rai (2,003 acres) at Khao Kradong in Buri Ram. The Supreme Court and the Central Administrative Court have ruled that the land rightfully belongs to the SRT, based on decades-old government land reserved for railway use dating back to a 1919 Royal Decree under King Rama V.
The SRT, under the guidance of Minister Phumtham, is acting in accordance with Supreme and Administrative Court orders, aiming to reclaim the land. However, the land has been subdivided into 995 individual titles, with many residents and entities having held the land for generations. Some of these titles were registered under "Sor Kor 1" rights in the 1950s.
Despite the court rulings, the Department of Lands initially failed to act on the SRT's request to revoke these private land title deeds. However, the Central Administrative Court ordered revocation according to Section 61 of the Land Code. A joint committee involving SRT and government representatives was formed to clarify the exact boundaries before finalizing the revocations.
As of early August 2025, the Interior Ministry began reclaiming the land, sparking fierce opposition from nearly 1,000 families and local residents, including influential landowners. These residents have protested and prepared to file lawsuits, alleging negligence and fighting to keep their homes and heritage.
The political landscape is divided, with the Pheu Thai Party supporting the revocation as legally mandated by court rulings, while the Bhumjaithai Party opposes it, highlighting the social and political tensions.
Minister Phumtham has emphasized that the justice system will handle any cases where people have acquired land legally. He also asserted that the central area of the disputed land clearly falls under the royal grant, and any minor boundary disputes are for the justice system to decide. He added that no one is being treated unfairly in the disputed land issue.
Chanin Kanhirun, a legal representative for those affected by the disputed land, asserts that no royal decree or legal act, including the 1921 Rail and Highway Management Act, granted this land to the SRT. He also claims that the railway map used to support the SRT's case was drawn up solely for temporary rock transport and held no legal authority.
The dispute remains active and contentious, with state authorities moving to reclaim the land based on supreme court decisions, but facing legal, political, and grassroots resistance from those affected. The process of boundary clarification and title revocation is underway but not yet fully resolved.
[1] Supreme Court Judgment on Khao Kradong Land Dispute (2023) [2] Central Administrative Court Ruling on Khao Kradong Land Dispute (2024) [3] Interior Ministry's Reclamation of Khao Kradong Land (2025) [4] Protests Against Interior Ministry's Reclamation of Khao Kradong Land (2025) [5] 1919 Royal Decree on Government Land Reserved for Railway Use (1919)
- This ongoing conflict over Khao Kradong land in Buri Ram is not just a matter of land reclamation, but also involves policy-and-legislation, politics, and general news, as it involves court rulings, ministerial decisions, and public protests.
- The Khao Kradong land dispute, a contentious issue that has been ongoing for years, is currently at the heart of political discussions in Thailand, as it concerns policy-and-legislation related to government land reserved for railway use, the interests of various parties, and the balance of power between the government and the people.
