Koh Tao Residents Petition Senate Over Prison Land Encroachment.

Koh Tao: Koh Tao residents have petitioned the Senate regarding the encroachment of prison land on their property, urging the Treasury Department to return more than 15,000 rai of land. This issue has prevented them from obtaining land title deeds, even though they had been living there previously. According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Nantana Nantvaropa, a member of the Senate, received the petition from Mr. Ananchai Chaidet, a lawyer representing Koh Tao residents. They requested legislative intervention to raise questions with the Minister of Finance about the Treasury Department's registration of over 15,000 rai of Koh Tao land, despite the actual area being only 25 rai, causing distress to the villagers. Mr. Ananchai highlighted that Koh Tao is considered state property, which has prevented many residents and business operators from registering their land. Villagers had settled on the island before 1937, and the Department of Corrections constructed a prison in 1942. Although the prison eventually went un used, the Treasury Department claimed possession and registered the entire island as state property. In 1955, villagers attempted to register their land rights using the Sor Kor. 1 form but were unable to do so due to the existing registration issues. From 1986 to 2022, Koh Tao residents lodged complaints with various authorities, leading to the formation of a committee headed by General Kriangkrai Srirak, First Vice President of the Senate. The committee deemed the Treasury Department's actions illegal and ordered the land to be returned to the villagers, but the department has not complied. Ms. Nantana mentioned that the issue could be considered an encroachment on the land of long-standing residents. While questions to the Minister of Finance can be raised when the Senate session opens, it is currently closed. She advised that if urgent action is necessary, a complaint should be filed with the Treasury Department, and relevant information should be sent to the Ministry of Finance to expedite the issuance of land title deeds for Koh Tao residents.