ID :
99401
Mon, 01/11/2010 - 20:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/99401
The shortlink copeid
Red Shirts urge Privy Councillor Surayud to return Khao Yai Thiang land to state
BANGKOK, Jan 11 (TNA) – The anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)—the Red Shirts—who are rallying at the vacation residence of Privy Councillor Gen Surayud Chulanont at Khao Yai Thiang in Nakhon Ratchasima urged the former prime minister to immediately return land he holds to the state.
The UDD, which started its protest Sunday, claimed that their rally is simply aimed at calling attention to what they branded as the government’s practice of double standards.
The Red Shirt leaders took turns on the stage to attack the former prime minister and anounced their three-point demand.
They urged Gen Surayud to return the land he occupied to the state without delay and without waiting for the Royal Forestry Department probe on the controversial land.
The protesters are demanding that Gen Surayud consider resigning as president of the Foundation for Khao Yai National Park Protection.
The UDD also wanted Gen Surayud to review his role as Privy Councillor.
Red Shirt leaders said the protest was scheduled to end on Tuesday morning, and if there is no response from the government, they will then consider their next move.
Convicted ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was expected to address his supporters via video link from unknown location at the protest venue.
The protesters are pressuring the government for an answer on the alleged encroachment into the forest reserve by Gen Surayud.
They consider as complicit the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for ignoring the case and charged that many villagers at Khao Yai Thiang have been sued for trespassing in the forests and forced to leave their land.
Security has been tightened both inside and outside Gen Surayud’s home to maintain order in the area. Two tiers of metal barricades were placed along the fence outside his home.
The Office of the Attorney General on Friday announced it would not sue Gen Surayud for his ownership of land in the forest preserve, saying that the former prime minister violated no law and that his land purchase was legal.
An Attorney General’s spokesperson said Gen Surayud was not guilty as he had legally acquired the land, and that the property had twice changed ownership before he acquired the property.
The spokesman, however, said an earlier Cabinet resolution prohibits local residents who were allocated forest reserve land for farming from selling it to others excepting their statutory heirs. Otherwise the land must be returned to the state.
Royal Forestry Department has set up a new committee has been set up to look into the controversy.
It will investigate how Gen Surayud acquired a 14-rai block of land originally intended under a 1975 cabinet resolution to be allocated to landless farmers.
Gen Surayud said earlier that he could comply with the law regarding his land ownership and would follow the Attorney General's decision.
The general is reportedly staying at his Bangkok residence. He was to attend a meeting on Tuesday and have a press conference over the concert to be held at Khao Yai. It was expected that he may clarify the land issue during the press conference. (TNA)
The UDD, which started its protest Sunday, claimed that their rally is simply aimed at calling attention to what they branded as the government’s practice of double standards.
The Red Shirt leaders took turns on the stage to attack the former prime minister and anounced their three-point demand.
They urged Gen Surayud to return the land he occupied to the state without delay and without waiting for the Royal Forestry Department probe on the controversial land.
The protesters are demanding that Gen Surayud consider resigning as president of the Foundation for Khao Yai National Park Protection.
The UDD also wanted Gen Surayud to review his role as Privy Councillor.
Red Shirt leaders said the protest was scheduled to end on Tuesday morning, and if there is no response from the government, they will then consider their next move.
Convicted ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was expected to address his supporters via video link from unknown location at the protest venue.
The protesters are pressuring the government for an answer on the alleged encroachment into the forest reserve by Gen Surayud.
They consider as complicit the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for ignoring the case and charged that many villagers at Khao Yai Thiang have been sued for trespassing in the forests and forced to leave their land.
Security has been tightened both inside and outside Gen Surayud’s home to maintain order in the area. Two tiers of metal barricades were placed along the fence outside his home.
The Office of the Attorney General on Friday announced it would not sue Gen Surayud for his ownership of land in the forest preserve, saying that the former prime minister violated no law and that his land purchase was legal.
An Attorney General’s spokesperson said Gen Surayud was not guilty as he had legally acquired the land, and that the property had twice changed ownership before he acquired the property.
The spokesman, however, said an earlier Cabinet resolution prohibits local residents who were allocated forest reserve land for farming from selling it to others excepting their statutory heirs. Otherwise the land must be returned to the state.
Royal Forestry Department has set up a new committee has been set up to look into the controversy.
It will investigate how Gen Surayud acquired a 14-rai block of land originally intended under a 1975 cabinet resolution to be allocated to landless farmers.
Gen Surayud said earlier that he could comply with the law regarding his land ownership and would follow the Attorney General's decision.
The general is reportedly staying at his Bangkok residence. He was to attend a meeting on Tuesday and have a press conference over the concert to be held at Khao Yai. It was expected that he may clarify the land issue during the press conference. (TNA)
