Alro insists it’s ‘not park’s land’

Are legal says of farmland close to Khao Yai?

Alro insists it's 'not park's land'
A portion of Khao Yai National Park is included in a land debate over Sor Por Por 4- 01 documents for impoverished farmers, is shown on a map showing the boundary of the standard Khao Yai National Park. Next week, the House committee on land and natural resources heard more about the topic. ( Photo: Chanat Katanyu )

The Department of National Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation ( DNP ) claimed that all disputed land plots close to Khao Yai were legitimate agricultural land and did not overlap with national park land. The Agricultural Land Reform Office ( ALRO ) reaffirmed this claim on Saturday.

Vinaroj Sapsongsuk, Alro’s secretary-general, claimed Alro and the DNP had originally agreed to work together to resolve property ownership disputes close to the park.

The Alro owns the land in question, which is located in Ban Hew Pla Kang in the tambon Mu Si of the Pak Chong city of Nakhon Ratchasima, according to Mr. Vinaroj.

He cited findings from a recent survey by the Royal Thai Survey Department (RTSD ), which claimed the property was not part of the park.

He claimed that in a land reform system, about 33, 896 ray of property was given over to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in 1962.

The Alro and the Royal Forest Department, which at the moment oversaw federal parks in the country, approved the barrier marking in Khao Yai on December 26, 1984, he claimed.

He claimed that at the moment, roughly 86.25 % of the territory was being used for agriculture.

Following the passage of the 1975 Agricultural Land Reform Act, Alro started grant farmers the right to use the property, according to Mr. Vinaroj.

A proper article to the law is required, according to him, and payment for farmers who are now occupying the land should also be provided.

According to him, an Alro committee would continue to look into its provincial officers ‘ alleged misconduct in issuing Sor Por Kor documents (title deeds ) on forest land. He added that these Alro officials have been moved to make room for the investigation and face disciplinary action as well as criminal and civil charges if found guilty.