Thread: Surayud must yield land

Surayud must yield land
Surayud must yield land

Public prosecutor finds against former PM

• Published: 8/01/2010 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Privy councillor Surayud Chulanont is expected to lose his land on Khao Yai Thiang in Nakhon Ratchasima to the state after public prosecutors confirmed he is not the rightful owner, senator Khamnoon Sitthisamarn says.
Thanpuying Chitravadee Chulanont prepares a bed for her husband, former prime minister Surayud Chulanont, at his resort home on Khao Yai Thiang in Sikhiu district, Nakhon Ratchasima in this file photo from 2008. Gen Surayud may soon have to give up the land, including the house, after public prosecutors decided he was not the rightful owner.

The prosecutors' decision comes as the anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship is planning a rally at the holiday home site on Monday to expose what it says is the government's double standards on law enforcement.
The UDD has accused Gen Surayud, a former prime minister and army commander-in-chief, of encroaching on a forest reserve and the government of turning a blind eye to the infringement.
Mr Khamnoon said the Nakhon Ratchasima prosecutor yesterday wrote to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry through the Royal Forest Department, suggesting that 150 plots on Khao Yai Thiang, including the 14 rai held by Gen Surayud, be returned to the state.
The prosecutor suggests in the letter that the department follow a cabinet resolution of April 29, 1975 on the allocation of forest reserve lands to landless farmers.
The cabinet resolution states that anyone allocated forest reserve land could not sell it. The land could only be passed on to their statutory heirs.
If they have not yet done so, the land must be returned to the state.
"Gen Surayud is a third-hand buyer of the land and he had no intent of breaking the law," Mr Khamnoon said.
"When the allegations surfaced, he expressed an intention to return it. He was waiting for legal clarification.
"Now that it is all clear, we believe he will return the land."
Mr Khamnoon said the UDD should suspend its rally on Monday to avoid "complications".
A complaint was filed against Gen Surayud in 2007 for alleged encroachment but prosecutors decided not to seek his indictment because they believed he had bought the land without realising he might be breaking the law.
Mr Khamnoon called on the government to make the prosecution's decision public in order to promote a proper understanding of the issue.
Gen Surayud could not be reached for comment yesterday.
A source close to the privy councillor said he was waiting for a letter on the status of the land from the Royal Forest Department and was ready to return the land to the state if the department wanted it back.
Saksit Tridej, permanent secretary for natural resources and environment, said his ministry was preparing to explain the matter to the UDD.
UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan said the red shirt protesters would go ahead with their rally at Gen Surayud's hillside villa on Monday.
"We don't care what he [Gen Surayud] is going to say about his encroachment on the forest on Khao Yai Thiang, but one thing we know is that the offence has already been committed by him," Mr Jatuporn said.
"I don't hope Gen Surayud will return the land to the state.
"The rally is aimed at telling the international community and the people that double standards exist in this country."
Mr Jatuporn called on the government to take legal action against Gen Surayud, who has so far avoided charges even as many villagers on Khao Yai Thiang have been sued for trespassing in the forests and forced to leave their land.
"Can he walk free of charges just because he is a member of the elite?" he asked.
Gen Ninnart Biewkhaimuk, a close aide to Gen Surayud, yesterday said the privy councillor was concerned about a possible confrontation between the demonstrators and villagers during the rally.
About 5,000 police will be sent to keep law and order.


So Thaksin sold a land plot to his wife who btw happened to be the highest bidder and got a 2 years sentence while Surayud stole 14 rai of public land and is now member of the Privy Council.
Quite enlightening on what Thailand actually is.

Suthep: No need to use ISA, Emergency Decree when Red Shirts rally at Khao Yai Thiang



BANGKOK, Jan 8 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban believes there is no need for the government to implement the Internal Security Act (ISA) or an Emergency Decree to maintain law and order when the Red Shirt group demonstrates at the home of Privy Councilor and former prime minister Surayud Chulanont's home in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Mr Suthep said he will meet Friday with Acting National Police Chief Pol Gen. Patheep Tanprasert and senior police officers to discuss the general security situation and expects to map out security measures to respond to the planned rally of the anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), the Red Shirts, at Gen. Surayud’s home.

The UDD movement announced they will rally at the hillside vacation home of the former prime minister at Khao Yai Thiang in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima Monday to call attention to what they branded as the government’s practice of double standards.

The Red Shirts accuse the government of ignoring the alleged encroachment of the national forest reserve at Khao Yai Thiang by Gen. Surayud and his wife.

The deputy premier said he believed that the police alone will be sufficient to maintain law and order and to prevent any clash between UDD supporters and local residents who may disagree with the demonstration.

Enforcing either the ISA or an Emergency Decree will not be necessary, the deputy prime minister said.

As for the news report that the UDD would block the Mitrapap Highway, Mr Suthep said that anyone violating the law will be prosecuted.

Political expression must be carried out within the framework of Thailand’s laws, he said, adding that rallies can always be staged and be prolonged as well, but demonstrators must not violate the law, or damage the country and the public. (TNA)

enews.mcot.net

Former PM Surayud pledges legal compliance in land dispute



BANGKOK, Jan 7 (TNA) - Privy Councillor and former prime minister Surayud Chulanont on Thursday said he was willing to comply with the law over his controversial land in the Northeast and that the Red Shirt's planned rally at his home should not turn into violence.

The Red Shirt anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) movement said they will rally at the hillside vacation home of the former prime minister at Khao Yai Thiang in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima Monday to call attention to what they branded as the government’s practice of double standards.

The UDD accused the government of ignoring the alleged encroachment of the national forest reserve at Khao Yai Thiang by Gen. Surayud and his wife.

Gen Surayud said he would strictly observe the law and would follow the Attorney General's decision over the matter.

The Office of the Attorney-General at Nakhon Ratchasima reportedly informed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to follow the Cabinet resolution which stated that the local resident who was allocated the land could not sell the land to other people except their statutory heir. Otherwise the land must return to the state.

Gen Surayud said he is waiting for the Attorney General to clarify the matter to the public and he would comply with the decision.

The former prime minister stated that he did not want to see any violence arise from the issue which "was not serious enough to warrant the government to invoke the Internal Security Act."

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Defence Gen. Apichart Penkitti said the arm forces were ready to support the police in maintaining law and order in case of the rally of the UDD and its main rival, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

However, he said the demonstration by any group would do no good to the nation, and any problem should be better resolved through talks.

He added that a coup was also not the best solution to end the conflict.
Gen Apichart said that he was confident that the government security tools including Internal Security Act (ISA) could be used to maintain law and order. (TNA)

enews.mcot.net

The cabinet resolution states that anyone allocated forest reserve land could not sell it. The land could only be passed on to their statutory heirs.

Don't know about the rest of the country but up here people buy and sell this type state-allocated land all the time. Eveybody knows it's illegal but they still do it because the cost is so much lower than freehold land.

No lawsuit against ex-PM Surayud for encroachment of forest land



BANGKOK, Jan 8 (TNA) - Thailand's Office of Attorney General (OAG) on Friday opted to not to file suit against Privy Councillor and former prime minister Surayud Chulanont over his controversial hillside vacation home in the Northeast, insisting the former army chief did not violate the law and that the land purchase was legally conducted.

Attorney general’s spokesman Thanapit Moonlapruek commented as prosecutors in Nakhon Ratchasima decided not to file a complaint against the privy councilor for encroaching the national forest reserve on Khao Yai Thiang.

Mr Thanapit said Gen Surayud was not guilty as he had legally acquired the land, and that the property had twice changed ownership before him.

The spokesman, however, said an earlier Cabinet resolution prohibits local residents who were allocated forest reserve land from selling it to others excepting their statutory heirs. Otherwise the land must be returned to the state.

Mr Thanapit said the case has been forwarded to the Royal Forestry Department for further action, but the department has yet to officially inform the Attorney General.

The OAG spokesman reasserted that the Attorney General conducted Gen Surayud's case fairly and in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, Jatuporn Prompan, a key leader of the Red Shirt anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) movement, labeled the Attorney General's decision as a "most unjust practice," saying that in the past people who encroached onThailand’s national forest reserves were punished.

Mr Jatuporn stood firm that the Red Shirt protesters will start gathering in Khao Yai Thiang on Sunday before the rally formally kickd off on Monday to call attention to what they branded the government’s practice of double standards.

Reaffirming that the protest will be peaceful, he said some volunteers will enter the venue ahead of the rally to maintain security given a report on an attempt to create violence.

Mr Jatuporn said over 100,000 Red Shirt supporters are expected to join the rally on Khao Yai Thiang but he did not know how long the protest will drag on.

Regarding the UDD mass rally to oust the Abhisit Vejjajiva government, Mr Jatuporn said that the Red Shirt leaders will discuss about the planned protest on January 15.

He said more than one million UDD supporters will turn up at the Red Shirt rally in Bangkok, covering from Sanam Luang, along Ratchadamnoen Avenue to Government House. (TNA)

enews.mcot.net

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he would take legal action against all wrongdoers equally in accordance with the law.

Suthep vows action against all wrong doers - Nationmultimedia.com

Office of the Attorney-General yesterday dropped the case against Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont for alleged illegal encroachment of land on Khao Yai Thiang in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
The reason given was that Surayud had not intended to break the law.


OAG drops Surayud case - Nationmultimedia.com

ho hum .........................

.

Did anyone ever really expect a different outcome?

Good thing his wife didn't buy it with his signature...or old Ginger would (of course) be living in Phnom Penh with his pal Thaksin..

Lot of egg on faces of those that staunchly defended him despite overwhelming evidence suggesting his guilt.

There is no law of precedent in Thailand. This result is of no surprise to anyone.

The vacation home of Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont at Khao Yai Thiang in Nakhon Ratchasima has been demolished and the plot has been vacated and restored to its origninal state of underveloped land, forest official Suthep Pawaretwithayalan said on Friday.

Surayud's Khao Yai Thiang home demolished - Nationmultimedia.com

All's well that ends well.

so no photos then

^

trucks been and gone , dwelling demolisted

I wonder if Surayud will put a caravan up there?

Originally Posted by Mid

^

trucks been and gone , dwelling demolisted

Photos?

A six-wheel truck loaded with personal belongings is seen leaving privy councillor Surayud Chulanont’s holidayhomeon Khao Yai Thiang.
JETJARAS NARANONG

bangkokpost.com

It was the right thing to do. If he really hasn't some little trick hidden up his sleave to get his money back, then I give the man full credit for being a man and doing the right thing - though of course one might still be cynical of the original purchase - but if every hi-so was also doing it..then he's just one of many.

The vacation home of Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont at Khao Yai Thiang in Nakhon Ratchasima has been demol�ished and the plot has been vacated and restored to its original undeveloped state, forest official Suthep Pawaretwithayalan said yesterday.

Surayud's Khao Yai Thiang home razed - Nationmultimedia.com

The land plot at Khao Yai Thiang in Nakhon Ratchasima where the house of Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont once stood is now completely cleared. All the structures have been dismantled.

PRASIT TANGPRASERT


Surayud clears land, returns it to state