Parliament, Land Committee prepares to invite relevant agencies to discuss land allocation for farming in Thap Lan on 17 July, indicating that 3 groups in overlapping areas should be taken into consideration.
Mr. Poonsak Chanchampi, MP for the Move Forward Party and Chairman of the Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment, said before the meeting that the committee meeting of the land committee will meet today (July 10) to request a resolution on the allocation of farmland in the Tap Lan National Park area. The relevant agencies will be invited to provide information for consideration today, July 17. He also confirmed that the consideration will be made quickly because there is a time frame after the public hearing is completed on July 12. The Department of National Parks will collect opinions for consideration within 30 days.
As for the part where society is still confused about whether the land allocated for farming is the original area where villagers live and farm or the land that is forest
, Mr. Poonsak said that regarding the Tap Lan forest, the committee has already brought it for consideration. There is still initial information, which can be divided into 3 parts: 1. The group of people who were there before the park area was declared or people brought in by government agencies, such as the Thai National Development Group of the army since 1980 according to Policy 66/23 during the time of General Prem Tinsulanonda. 2. The Sor Por Kor land that was declared after the national park was established, which has the right to come in and benefit from farming according to the state’s right to farm for agriculture. 3. The group of people who have lawsuits with the national park, approximately 552 cases, all 3 groups have overlapping areas in Tap Lan National Park. Therefore, these 3 groups should be included in the consideration.
As for the preliminary information that the committee has studied, how many rai of land do citizens have the right to? Mr. Poonsak said that he would like to have a discuss
ion on July 17th to get the correct information and facts. The rough information at present is that there are approximately 60,000 – 70,000 rai of Sor Por Kor land. On that day, there will be clarity.
Source: Thai News Agency