Forest encroachment and land tenure in Thailand
By Jon Fernquest
It
is a fact of
life that
large stretches of land in Thailand simply do not have proper deeds and property rights
attached to them. Partly as a result of these rights not being clearly defined "forest encroachment" has suddenly become a "burning hot" issue in Thailand.
This week it is the subject of a special section in the Bangkok Post (Read articles #1, #2 and #3).
Red-shirt protests at the forest home of former Prime Minister Surayud first brought the issue to the public's attention.
Efforts to remove poor farmers from their forest lairs kicked into motion at about the same time (Read @Sanitsuda Ekachai's column).
How far will this crackdown go?
Today's article begins after the vocabulary.
encroachment -
illegally entering into and using an area that you have no
right to use
forest encroachment - illegally entering into and using forest land
land tenure - the system for owning land that exists in a society (See Wikipedia)
fact of life - an unpleasant fact that everyone must live with (examples: we all must die, we must all suffer from disease at some time)
deed - the official government document that shows that a person owns land (See Wikipedia)
property rights - having clear legal rights as owner of some property (See Wikipedia)
clearly defined - saying exactly what something is, by giving details that everyone can understand
brought the issue to the public's attention - made people start thinking about the issue and being concerned about the issue
forest lairs - hidden places in the forest
kicked into motion - started suddenly
forest encroachment - illegally entering into and using forest land
land tenure - the system for owning land that exists in a society (See Wikipedia)
fact of life - an unpleasant fact that everyone must live with (examples: we all must die, we must all suffer from disease at some time)
deed - the official government document that shows that a person owns land (See Wikipedia)
property rights - having clear legal rights as owner of some property (See Wikipedia)
clearly defined - saying exactly what something is, by giving details that everyone can understand
brought the issue to the public's attention - made people start thinking about the issue and being concerned about the issue
forest lairs - hidden places in the forest
kicked into motion - started suddenly
Land cases a 'Pandora's box'
Loophole-filled system abused for decades25/01/2010
Post Reporters
The Khao Yai Thiang land encroachment case could open a Pandora's box, as thousands of people could be found to be illegally occupying land if the government really gets serious about enforcing the law.
Pandora's box, open a Pandora's box - a
source of trouble that you did not know would lead to trouble
(origin of phrase in Greek mythology: a box given to Pandora by the
Greek god Zeus who told her not to open it but she opened it anyway and
many bad things for humans like sickness came out of the box (See Wikipedia)
loophole - a mistake a law or agreement that allows people to legally avoid the law or agreement
decades - periods of ten years เป็นสิบๆปี
land - to get or achieve something good, especially in a way which seems easy or unexpected ได้รับ
encroachment (noun) - gradually covering more and more of an area of land การบุกรุก
loophole - a mistake a law or agreement that allows people to legally avoid the law or agreement
decades - periods of ten years เป็นสิบๆปี
land - to get or achieve something good, especially in a way which seems easy or unexpected ได้รับ
encroachment (noun) - gradually covering more and more of an area of land การบุกรุก
All of Thailand's jails wouldn't be enough to detain the offenders, if the authorities are serious about handling the cases as they have done with Gen Surayud Chulanont's resort home," said a lawyer who asked not to be named.
It has to be admitted that Thailand has long had a problem with forest land encroachment and ownership and usage rights in the area.
Many stunning plots of land on mountaintops, in valleys and at seaside spots throughout the country now belong to rich local entrepreneurs, politicians, high-ranking state officials and corporate employees, and not a lot of the land is still owned by farmers
detain
- to keep someone in a police station or prison and not allow them to
leave กักตัว ควบคุมตัวหรือฝากขัง
authorities - the police or people in official organisations who have the legal power to make people obey laws or rules เจ้าหน้าที่ (ตำรวจ หรือผู้มีอำนาจ)
stunning - very impressive or beautiful สวยตระการตา น่าตะลึง
plots of land - pieces of land
local - in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about ท้องถิ่น
entrepreneurs - small business owners (especially those who try out new risky businesses)
high-ranking - has a very high position in an organization
rich - interesting, with a lot of different qualities, experiences or events อุดมไปด้วย
state - government รัฐบาล
officials - people who hold positions of authority in the government and other organizations (who make the decisions and enforce the rules)
authorities - the police or people in official organisations who have the legal power to make people obey laws or rules เจ้าหน้าที่ (ตำรวจ หรือผู้มีอำนาจ)
stunning - very impressive or beautiful สวยตระการตา น่าตะลึง
plots of land - pieces of land
local - in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about ท้องถิ่น
entrepreneurs - small business owners (especially those who try out new risky businesses)
high-ranking - has a very high position in an organization
rich - interesting, with a lot of different qualities, experiences or events อุดมไปด้วย
state - government รัฐบาล
officials - people who hold positions of authority in the government and other organizations (who make the decisions and enforce the rules)
Not only landless and poor people as well as landlords have encroached on more than a million rai of forest reserves. Other offenders included monks building permanent Buddhist monasteries, centres, temples and accommodations
He said the latest survey showed a total of 5,529 monasteries, centres, temples and accommodations covering 190,000 rai in forest reserves, and national parkswildlife sanctuaries. In 70 cases, mostly in the northeastern provinces, occupants were evicted while others were allowed to remain as long as they helped authorities with forest conservation
landlords
- people who own land and rent it out to other people
(tennants) for a time
encroached (verb) - to gradually cover more and more of an area of land บุกรุก, ล่วงล้ำ
reserves - keeps something for a particular purpose or time สงวน
forest reserve, nature reserve - areas of forests that are kept for nature, people not allowed to build there (See Wikipedia)
permanent - happening or existing for a long time or for all time in the future ถาวร
monastery - building where monks live
temples - buildings where people who are not monks (lay people) go to do religious worship
accommodations - hotels, motels, guest houses and other places where people stay while they are traveling
survey - doing a study of a whole subject or topic (to collect information about all parts of it)
national parks - a park owned and run by the government (often in the forest)
sanctuary, wildlife sanctuary - an area of land where birds and animals are protected and allowed to live freely and naturally
occupants (noun) - people who are in a particular place, vehicle, building, etc. at a particular time ผู้ครอบครอง
conservation - the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the damaging effects of human activity การอนุรักษ์ธรรมชาติ, การป้องกันความสูญเสีย, การสงวนไว้
encroached (verb) - to gradually cover more and more of an area of land บุกรุก, ล่วงล้ำ
reserves - keeps something for a particular purpose or time สงวน
forest reserve, nature reserve - areas of forests that are kept for nature, people not allowed to build there (See Wikipedia)
permanent - happening or existing for a long time or for all time in the future ถาวร
monastery - building where monks live
temples - buildings where people who are not monks (lay people) go to do religious worship
accommodations - hotels, motels, guest houses and other places where people stay while they are traveling
survey - doing a study of a whole subject or topic (to collect information about all parts of it)
national parks - a park owned and run by the government (often in the forest)
sanctuary, wildlife sanctuary - an area of land where birds and animals are protected and allowed to live freely and naturally
occupants (noun) - people who are in a particular place, vehicle, building, etc. at a particular time ผู้ครอบครอง
conservation - the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the damaging effects of human activity การอนุรักษ์ธรรมชาติ, การป้องกันความสูญเสีย, การสงวนไว้
He said forestry and national park officials had to use a lenient approach to deal with forest encroachment, particularly with farmers who have occupied and used the land for generations, in many cases dating back to the days before the areas were declared reserve land.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti said occupants of land in forest reserves and conservation areas covering 8.8 million rai should return their land to the state in February or face prosecution
lenient
- not strict; not giving someone as strong a punishment as you could
ลงโทษสถานเบา หรือให้ความเมตตา
approach - a way of doing or dealing with something การจัดการกับปัญหา วิธีการทำให้ถึงจุดหมาย
particularly - especially, or more than usual โดยเฉพาะ
generations - the period of time it takes for children to grow up and have children of their own (about 20 to 30 years)
dating back to the days before... - started in the time before
reserve - kept for use for something or someone ที่จัดสรรไว้ สำรอง
reserve, reserve land - a protected areas set aside for animals, trees and plants เขตสงวน
declared reserve land - when the government officially says that an area of land is now reserve land (so cannot be used)
prosecution - the process of accusing someone of a crime and asking a court of law to judge them การดำิเนินคดีตามกฎหมาย
approach - a way of doing or dealing with something การจัดการกับปัญหา วิธีการทำให้ถึงจุดหมาย
particularly - especially, or more than usual โดยเฉพาะ
generations - the period of time it takes for children to grow up and have children of their own (about 20 to 30 years)
dating back to the days before... - started in the time before
reserve - kept for use for something or someone ที่จัดสรรไว้ สำรอง
reserve, reserve land - a protected areas set aside for animals, trees and plants เขตสงวน
declared reserve land - when the government officially says that an area of land is now reserve land (so cannot be used)
prosecution - the process of accusing someone of a crime and asking a court of law to judge them การดำิเนินคดีตามกฎหมาย
He said the government planned to allocate such occupied areas to needy farmers, with allocation expected to be completed over the next two years
We want to warn people that existing buying and selling of prevailing Por. Bor. Tor. 5 (land with possessory right recognised only by tax payments at the Local Administrative Office) is illegal, as this type of land is not [an ownership] rights document," said Mr Suwit
Selling and buying of such documents for land tenure is also illegal under cabinet resolutions passed in 1998 and 1999
allocate
(verb) - to officially give out an amount of or share of something
แบ่งส่วน, จัดสรร, จัดแบ่ง
needy - not having enough money, food, clothing, etc. ยากไร้
allocation - the process of deciding to give an amount of share of something to some one การจัดสรรปันส่วน
illegal - against the law ผิดกฎหมาย
document - a piece of paper or a set of papers containing official information เอกสาร
land tenure - the system for owning land in a society (See Wikipedia)
cabinet - the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy คณะรัฐมนตรี
resolutions - a formal decision made at a meeting by taking a vote
needy - not having enough money, food, clothing, etc. ยากไร้
allocation - the process of deciding to give an amount of share of something to some one การจัดสรรปันส่วน
illegal - against the law ผิดกฎหมาย
document - a piece of paper or a set of papers containing official information เอกสาร
land tenure - the system for owning land in a society (See Wikipedia)
cabinet - the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy คณะรัฐมนตรี
resolutions - a formal decision made at a meeting by taking a vote
(Source: Forest encroachment and land tenure in Thailand, Jon Fernquest, link)
