PHUKET: The holiday island of Phuket has been promised an investigation of cases where local authorities and large investors have conspired to steal land for development.
The undertaking came yesterday from the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Justice Ministry, Dussadee Arayawuth, who visited several key spots on Phuket where alleged attacks on public land appear to be obvious.
At Kamala, between 30 and 50 beach vendors from all over Phuket attempted to hijack the tour by making a protest about their treatment since last year's clearance of commerce from the island's sands.
Khun Dussadee promised he would speak to the Governor of Phuket about the vendors' issue but his main purpose was to see for himself the kinds of alleged encroachments now under investigation.
At Koh Raet, a small island off the east coast from Ao Po Grand Marina it's alleged that 161 rai of land has been misappropriated for development.
Khun Dussadee said that the Land Offices in Phuket City, Kathu and Thalang had some questions to answer about how titles have been issued, apparently without proper checks or documentation.
The Land Titles offices on Phuket have been somewhat reticent to join in the probes already underway on the island, in some cases point-blank refusing to provide historical documents.
Intervention by the Justice Ministry may well expose a decade or more of suspect transactions to public scrutiny.
At Kamala, Khun Dussadee was keen to see for himself whether there was any truth in allegations that public space along the foreshore had been gobbled up by encroaching resorts.
The probe is expected to intensify quickly.
The undertaking came yesterday from the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Justice Ministry, Dussadee Arayawuth, who visited several key spots on Phuket where alleged attacks on public land appear to be obvious.
At Kamala, between 30 and 50 beach vendors from all over Phuket attempted to hijack the tour by making a protest about their treatment since last year's clearance of commerce from the island's sands.
Khun Dussadee promised he would speak to the Governor of Phuket about the vendors' issue but his main purpose was to see for himself the kinds of alleged encroachments now under investigation.
At Koh Raet, a small island off the east coast from Ao Po Grand Marina it's alleged that 161 rai of land has been misappropriated for development.
Khun Dussadee said that the Land Offices in Phuket City, Kathu and Thalang had some questions to answer about how titles have been issued, apparently without proper checks or documentation.
The Land Titles offices on Phuket have been somewhat reticent to join in the probes already underway on the island, in some cases point-blank refusing to provide historical documents.
Intervention by the Justice Ministry may well expose a decade or more of suspect transactions to public scrutiny.
At Kamala, Khun Dussadee was keen to see for himself whether there was any truth in allegations that public space along the foreshore had been gobbled up by encroaching resorts.
The probe is expected to intensify quickly.
Normally on Phuket, when someone isn't doing the bidding of the Powers that be, they are transferred to another location.
Why not transfer the Land Title chief and put someone in who actually wants to make Phuket and Thailand a better place for the future. Or is there a reason why certain Powers that be, don't want things uncovered.
Posted by Tbs on March 14, 2015 13:26