THE AUTHORITIES invoked absolute power under Article 44 of the 2014 Interim Charter to seize 432,765 rai of Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) land allocated for farmers from illegal owners within 129 days. The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry said this was to tackle the prolonged land problems.

Separately, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) also ordered at least 26 resorts in Phetchabun’s famous tourist destination of Phu Tab Berk to be torn down as they encroach into water head forestland. Also some of the structures faced the risk of landslide.

Meanwhile, according to NCPO’s order No 36/2559 issued on Tuesday, land will be seized from those who hold, have bought or were ordered to return ALRO-allocated land.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya explained yesterday that Article 44 was invoked to solve the chronic problem of landless farms and the illegal occupation of ALRO-allocated land.

Chatchai pointed out that the order covers three types of land and the owners would be affected if they fall under any of these categories.

Firstly, those who own more than 500 rai of ALRO land that has not undergone the land-reform process. There are 422 such plots in 25 provinces, covering a total area of around 426,300 rai.

Secondly, those who purchased more than 100 rai of such land from others. There are two such plots in Ayutthaya and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces, covering a total area of around 488 rai. Thirdly, those who own more than 500 rai of land that the court has already ordered to be returned to ALRO. There are five such plots in the provinces of Krabi, Surat Thani and Nakhon Ratchasima, covering a total area of 5,906 rai.

He explained that the timeframe for the land reclamation operation was 129 days, and ALRO will notify landowners to show evidence of their ownership within 15 days since the order was issued. ALRO will check all evidence within 30 days.

If the owners fail to show evidence of their ownership or if the evidence is proven to be illegal, they will be served eviction orders. If the eviction orders are ignored, local authorities will turn to the military to seize the land.

“I can confirm that if the owners can prove that the land was obtained legally, then there will be no problem. But if it is not, we have to take the land back,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam explained that the government’s first priority was to seize the land and distribute it among landless farmers, before illegal occupiers and state officers who supported them are investigated.

Meanwhile, Kasetsart University economics lecturer Decharut Sukkumnoed said this land-seizure policy was good if the government really intended to reclaim land from large illegal landowners and allocate it to the poor.

Separately, the NCPO issued an order on Tuesday to resolve the encroachment of forested land and misuse of it in the Phu Tab Berk mountain area. The order gives the Royal Forest Department, Social Development and Human Security Ministry as well as local authorities the authority to seize the land and return it to its original state environmentally.

Bandit Theveethiwarak, governor of Phetchabun province, said the resorts ordered by court to be demolished, will be the first target for the land seizure operation.

“We have just held a meeting with all partners responsible for the operation and still do not have a specific date to start the land seizure and resort demolition process yet. There are 26 cases that the court has already ruled upon and they are ready to be reclaimed,” Bandit said.

“We will inform the resort owners beforehand so they can dismantle the structures themselves. If they refuse to comply, then we will have the authorities do the job at their expense,” he added.