Bangkok: Deputy Interior Minister Phonphira Suwannachavi has taken the lead in addressing longstanding land disputes by meeting with the Assembly of the Poor and directing a swift resolution to these issues. The goal is to expedite the issuance of land titles across the nation, aiming to provide tangible relief to affected individuals.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Polpeera Suwannachavi chaired the inaugural meeting of the Committee for Resolving Land Issues of the Assembly of the Poor, under the Ministry of Interior's purview. The meeting was attended by key figures, including Mr. Chaiwat Chuenkosum, Deputy Permanent Secretary and Head of the Disaster Relief and Urban Development Task Force; Dr. Panu Pornwattana, Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Interior; Ms. Veeraporn Kiatchaipat, Assistant Secretary to the Deputy Minister of Interior, along with representatives from the Department of Land and other relevant bodies.
General Peer emphasized the government's commitment to resolving land ownership issues and ensuring that citizens have the legal right to possess land. The government aims to collaborate with the public to overcome legal barriers to land access, ensuring citizens can develop and utilize their land without hindrance, ultimately contributing to their well-being.
In addressing specific grievances, the meeting highlighted issues in Phuket and Nakhon Sawan provinces. In Phuket, there is an ongoing effort to reopen a public road that a private company had blocked, despite a court ruling in favor of the company. In Nakhon Sawan, Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsi will evaluate the land dispute process and consider whether Cabinet intervention is necessary.
Discussions also focused on additional problem areas highlighted by the Assembly of the Poor, such as the mangrove forest issue in Ban Ao Kung, Thalang District, Phuket. Plans include establishing nine provincial subcommittees to address these issues swiftly and effectively and assigning local administrative bodies to implement agreements aimed at alleviating the Assembly's members' hardships.
Moreover, collaborative solutions are being sought for those impacted by the Royal Decree of 1936, which designated prohibited land areas overlapping with farmland in Nakhon Sawan. Agencies have been called upon to provide updated data to facilitate overcoming these obstacles. The Ministry of Interior is dedicated to working with all sectors to resolve land disputes sustainably and improve citizens' lives.