Thread: Military set to yield all state land holdings

Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong pledged reforms on Tuesday after a soldier disgruntled over a property deal with his commander shot dead 29 people in Nakhon Ratchasima. The Nation has begun tracking the progress of that promised reform, with Day 1 being the date of his press conference, at which he apologised for the soldier’s actions and pledged to get military officers out of dubious private businesses.

General Apirat revealed more details of his plan on Wednesday (February 12), saying the Army would return state land to the Finance Ministry’s Treasury Department along with businesses such as the Suan Son Pradipat Hotel, kick-boxing stadiums and golf courses.
He said the ministry would collect the revenue these businesses generate and reallocate part of it to welfare for military personnel.


Though the military does not train its personnel in business management, some officers hold business positions concurrently with their Army careers. They will henceforth have to remain in the barracks, Apirat said.


“I want to correct the mistakes made by the Army and I am ready to accept any consequences stemming from those who are not happy with my decisions,” he said.


Yuttana Yimgarund, director general of the Treasury Department, acknowledged that the Army was ready to hand over state land it occupies, and said a memorandum of understanding to that effect will be signed on Monday.


The land in question covers a million rai and in some cases is illegally occupied by non-military people, in other cases has potential for commercial development, he said. The illegally occupied land will be rented out for legal residential or agricultural purposes.


This portion of the land is scattered around 10 provinces, including Surat Thani, Nakhon Swan and Chiang Rai, Yuttana said.


The Army has a vast amount of land with commercial potential, but it is prohibited by law from developing it as such, he said. The department must first determine the locations of these properties.

Military set to yield all state land holdings

The ‘welfare’ flaw that turned deadly

Details have emerged about the military housing project and the payment glitch that apparently led an Army sergeant-major to shoot dead 29 people in downtown Nakhon Ratchasima and wound 58 others last Saturday.

It was known almost immediately that the gunman had a conflict with an Army officer and others involved in the project, which allows lower ranks to borrow money to buy houses.



Soldiers can borrow the money directly from the Army Welfare Department and buy and own a house on state land as long as they sign a long-term lease with the Treasury Department.


But there’s a second approach, involving the purchase of land close to Army bases from private businesses aligned with the soldier’s own unit. The terms are highly affordable.


Problems have emerged, though, because base officers have collaborated with businesspeople in allocating funds.


Sometimes the amount of the loan exceeds the value of the house, or the loan is borrowed to refurbish the furniture or some other purpose, with the difference being returned to the buyer. Officers can expect to benefit financially, usually in the form of a “commission”, in return for persuading subordinates to sign a purchase deal. But low ranks often end up with a heavy debt burden.


In some cases, actual fraud is involved. One soldier told Channel 3 TV he was lured into borrowing money by the wife of a superior officer and she then altered the loan document so she could pocket a portion of the amount paid, leaving him deep in debt.

The ‘welfare’ flaw that turned deadly

Military Democratic State.

the Army would return state land to the Finance Ministry’s Treasury Department along with businesses such as the Suan Son Pradipat Hotel, kick-boxing stadiums and golf courses.

I wouldn't mind putting in an offer on that lush shagging pad that looks down the fairways of Plutaluang but my spidey senses tell me the Admiral will probably be hanging onto it.

So, if I am to read this correctly, the price of yaba in Thailand is about to escalate.

Hotels
Resorts
Agricultural Mafias
Tens of Thousands Rai Holdings
Shopping Malls
Corporate Businesses/Monopolies of every description
Newspapers
Television Networks

Etc....

Military/Ammat Plutocracy

So, to whom are these land interests of the army to be divested?

They simply cannot acknowledge publicly that the entire society is medieval and beyond modern governance based on a policy where everyone is equal before the law and that it is enforced without fear or favour.

Scrapping their ridiculous and repressive defamation laws, and that loathsome computer act, shielding the rich and powerful from exposure might be a start.

Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay

Why only dubious businesses? Banning from all private businesses regardless of their dubiousness seem the right thing to do... being a soldier is supposed to be a full time job with no time left for other businesses.

The dodgy practices, some illustrated in the 2nd article, triggered the tragedy...the guy got conned of his commission, then when he complained he got punishment...Army it's high time you clean your house and get transparent on how you use public money and resources (eg using conscripts to do officers' garden or take care of their house)

so uv never been in the military then.

Originally Posted by HuangLao

Hotels
Resorts
Agricultural Mafias
Tens of Thousands Rai Holdings
Shopping Malls
Corporate Businesses/Monopolies of every description
Newspapers
Television Networks

Etc....

Military/Ammat Plutocracy

And then there's all the tax-free illegal stuff..

Originally Posted by misskit

...and pledged to get military officers out of dubious private businesses.