Parks chief sued for removing reform land markers

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In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 4 Mar 2024 at 13 :51

Parks chief sued for removing reform land markers
During a House committee conference on February 27, an army officer items to a chart showing the barrier of Khao Yai National Park, a portion of which is involved in a dispute over the issuing of Sor Por Por 4- 01 documents to impoverished farmers. ( Photo: Chanat Karanyu )

National parks chief Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn has been charged with illegally removing markers on agricultural land adjacent to Khao Yai, according to the Agricultural Land Reform Office ( Alro ).

Amarit Khongkaew, the acting Alro statewide office captain in Nakhon Ratchasima, will file a police grievance against Mr. Chaiwat at Mu Si police stop in Pak Chong area, according to Alro Secretary-general Vinaroj Sapsongsuk on Monday.

Alro alleges that the property reform company removed 27 boundary markers without authorization on February 13th, according to Alro.

The National Parks Office director, Mr. Chaiwat, insists the property is a part of Khao Yai National Park despite the fact that the material bolts had designated it for agricultural functions.

The property reform department and Mr. Chaiwat’s business, which are directly under the control of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, are locked in legal battles over the area.

According to Alro, 72 sections of the disputed property, totaling about 3, 000 rai, were part of the 33, 896 rai of land that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives received in 1987 from the cabinet. By issuing them Sera Por Kor 4- 10&nbsp, property use papers, Alro claims that the land is part of an agrarian reform plan to benefit impoverished farmers.

According to the DNP, the whole area in dispute falls within the national park’s purview under the 1962 laws defining park boundaries.

Although neither Mr. Chaiwat nor the DNP had reacted to Alro’s decision, Mr. Chaiwat’s supporters have defended him in articles on his Instagram page to stand up for Khao Yai against further intrusion.